Australian singer Chris Doheny, voice of AFL anthem More Than A Game, dies in South Australia crash

Chris Doheny, 64, the voice of the AFL Footy Show anthem More Than A Game and frontman of the Australian pop-rock band Geisha, died Friday in a crash on Thiele Highway in Kapunda, South Australia. Police said he died at the scene when his Holden ute collided with a truck; the driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were uninjured.

Doheny’s signature track More Than A Game soundtracked 735 episodes of the AFL Footy Show until the show was axed in 2019, making the theme a familiar pulse for generations of footy fans. Diamond Dog Records announced his passing, saying the label and Doheny’s family were asking for privacy as they process the loss. The statement noted Doheny was the frontman of Geisha, underscoring his prominent role in Australian music beyond the TV theme.

Music writer Greg Phillip, a friend and colleague, said Doheny was one of the country’s most distinctive voices, blending charisma, vulnerability and rock ’n’ roll spirit. “Few voices in Australian music carried the blend of charisma, vulnerability and sheer rock ’n’ roll spirit quite like Chris Doheny,” Phillip said. “His soaring vocals and magnetic stage presence gave Geisha their signature identity — equal parts glamorous and deeply human.” Phillip added that Doheny had been excited about a Geisha reunion tour and the re-release of the band’s 40th-anniversary edition of its debut album when they last spoke, about a month earlier.

Diamond Dog Records later confirmed that the planned 40th-anniversary re-release would be postponed in light of the tragedy involving Doheny. The label’s statement emphasized privacy for Doheny’s family as they cope with the loss and the broader impact on the band’s activities.

Tributes poured in on social media from fans and peers who said Doheny touched a wide circle of listeners through his songwriting and performances. Radio journalist Andrew Johnston wrote that More Than A Game was beloved by footy fans for reasons tied to the show’s popularity and its capture of game-night energy, while others called Doheny a “fabulous guy” and an “amazing singer.”

Music journalist Greg Phillip lauded Doheny’s lasting influence on Australian music and football culture, noting that his voice helped shape Geisha’s identity and left a legacy that resonated beyond the stage. “Rest in peace, my friend,” said radio veteran Chris Huggins, adding that Doheny was a talented songwriter who received less recognition than he deserved. Scott Carne, lead singer of Kids in the Kitchen, said they had recently collaborated and praised Doheny as a “top bloke” with a powerful voice. Photographer and longtime friend Neill Bartlett recalled the good-natured humor and immense talent Doheny carried through his career, expressing disbelief at his passing while thanking him for the music.

The AFL Footy Show lineage and the cultural footprint of More Than A Game remain a central part of Doheny’s legacy. The theme’s association with the program helped define a generation of footy fans, and Doheny’s work with Geisha and other projects showcased a breadth of Australian pop-rock during a transformative era for the music scene.

Authorities said Doheny died at the scene after his Holden ute collided with a truck on Thiele Highway in Kapunda, a town near the Barossa Valley. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle were uninjured as the investigation continues. Diamond Dog Records asked for privacy for Doheny’s family as the case proceeds and the music community mourns one of its enduring voices.