Eddie McGuire pays heartfelt tribute to Footy Show legend Chris Doheny after death

A devastated Eddie McGuire has paid a heartfelt tribute to Chris Doheny, the Footy Show cult hero who died in a car crash in South Australia over the weekend. Doheny, 64, was the voice behind the AFL theme More Than A Game, which accompanied 735 episodes of the Footy Show from 1994 to 2019.

South Australian police said Doheny died at the scene when his Holden ute collided with a truck on Thiele Highway near Kapunda, north of the Barossa Valley. The driver of the other vehicle and its passenger were uninjured. McGuire delivered the tribute during Tuesday night's episode of Nine's Footy Classified, saying: 'Vale to Chris Doheny the voice of More Than A Game. A great friend of ours at the Footy Show back in the day here at Channel 9.' He added that Doheny 'passed away in a car accident in South Australia over the weekend, 64 years of age.'

Music writer Greg Phillip, a longtime friend, said Doheny possessed 'few voices in Australian music carried the blend of charisma, vulnerability and sheer rock 'n' roll spirit' and helped Geisha forge their signature identity, 'equal parts glamorous and deeply human.' He noted that Doheny had been planning a reunion tour with Geisha and, just a month earlier, discussed the re-release of Geisha's debut album's 40th-anniversary editions and the shows he was planning around it.

Doheny’s 'More Than A Game' theme soundtracked 735 episodes of The Footy Show until its 2019 axing. Diamond Dog Records confirmed the re-release will be postponed because of Doheny's death.

Tributes continued to pour in from friends and colleagues. Andrew Johnston, a radio journalist, posted: 'RIP Chris Doheny. More Than A Game was the theme song for footy lovers for so many reasons. The Footy Show was why I wanted to be a journalist. Hearing that chorus always had you pumped up on a Thursday night.' Chris Huggins, a radio legend, said: 'Rest in peace my friend. A fabulous guy who didn't get enough recognition for his terrific songwriting and singing skills.' Scott Carne, lead singer of Kids in the Kitchen, posted: 'Top bloke and an amazing singer... fly high my friend.' Neill Bartlett, long-time photographer and former radio host, said he was 'gutted' and remembered Doheny's talent and warmth.