Country footy has lost one of its great champions — and will be the poorer for it.
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David Fox’s impact on the country football community, in particular the Goulburn Valley League, wasn't one of just statistics, numbers or data.
His work, his contribution and now his legacy were anchored in the essence, the feeling and the very emotion of the game he called great.
And he was great at calling.
Only the biggest characters transcend the game, reach the level where their name becomes more a brand than a simple form of recognition.
That was Foxy.
The larger-than-life redhead dedicated most of his life to country football, as a player, coach and commentator. Even when he was simply telling a few tall football tales over a few tall football ales, every step of the way he left his mark.
And he asked nothing in return.
Which is why the ripple effect from his loss has spread far and wide, to the point it has reduced tough-as-old-boots footballers across the state to tears.
Foxy died on August 31 following health complications. He was 65.
Yet he still has the power to bring smiles, even laughter, to the faces of those who heard him, knew him or worked with him.
Including his great mate and long-time commentary cobber John ‘JR’ Ryan.
For decades the men, and their names, have been inseparable, brought together by the great game and still, in JR's mind, partners.
“When you say Foxy you say JR, and when you say JR you say Foxy,” Ryan said.
“Twenty-five years of media together and we never had a cross word between us.
“I was talking to him on Friday (August 28) and he was as good as gold, but he had a turn.
“I'm pretty devastated by it.”
Tributes flowed for Foxy following his death. The theme was the same throughout — the football world had lost not only a great mate, but one of its finest servants.
“It's gutted me a fair bit, but the thing that's really touched me is that I've had 40-odd phone calls in the couple of days since it's happened from everyone passing on their regards,” Ryan said.
“Everyone that's rang up over the past couple of days has had their own funny stories as well, and it jogs your memory a bit across the years. We always had a hell of a laugh.
“A real testament to him was the love that he had for his wife and kids and grandkids. As rough as he was on the outside, he was full of so much love and generosity.
“He visited hospitals, people who were sick, older people — he was always giving back and he never really spoke about that side of himself, he wasn't doing it to talk about it.”
The bond Foxy and JR had was one that resonated throughout country Victoria, and wherever the duo went, laughter always followed.
“Without a shadow of a doubt we were like brothers,” Ryan said.
“What we had was something really special. The banter that we had over the years was something really special.
“When you worked with him you had to keep your guard up because we were always trying to get one up on each other.
“We went to Longwood to call games there, out the back of Bourke. We went everywhere together calling footy. I remember one day at Kyabram where we had to call a game through the slats in the window of the rooms because it was raining so hard.
“We had plenty of funny days too, when we were in the back of a truck or something like that and Foxy would be worried he couldn't get up there with his back, frightened he'd fall over.
“One day we were out filming something for the footy show in Undera and a bee came buzzing past me and whacked him straight between the eyes. His reaction was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. We all lost it.
“Social media has really shown over the past couple of days his popularity, so many people sending their condolences.
“He was a unique bloke, a special bloke and one of my brothers — I've got five brothers and Foxy was my sixth.
“It's devastating, but for me personally I thank those who have reached out. It shows how much of an impact Foxy had.
“He's a man that I'll sorely miss. There wasn't many days where we didn't speak on the phone.
“To Lesley, Leigh and Alicia, you had a wonderful dad and husband.
“So long, mate. Goodbye to the greatest mate a bloke could ever have.”
Foxy's memory lives on through the various online productions he was involved with. The back catalogue of Foxy and JR Footy Shows can be found here.