Rob Reacts to... VFL Football theme 1979 - Up There Cazaly | Is this the greatest footy song?

[@suemontague3151]

Even if you don't follow the footy, I doubt there's any Aussie 🇦🇺 who doesn't know this song

[@RobReacts1]

a bit like "Am I going to see your face again" :D

[@archcollie5708]

The original artist, Mike Brady, sings this live every Grand final, at half time. It still brings a chill to your spine.

[@joshkleine21]

Before the game* It’s never once been sung at half time.

[@archcollie5708]

@@joshkleine21 My bad. Thought it was a part of the half time entertainment. Rob says I have alzheimers. Now I know.😁

[@joshkleine21]

@@archcollie5708 haha I guess memory loss happens to everyone at some point 🤣 I’m dreading the day…

[@baird55aus]

@@joshkleine21 You won't notice it when it comes!

[@FuryousD]

@@joshkleine21 it's not as bad when u are like me and just have a bad memory at the age of 31 (though i have had terrible memory all my life)

[@PiersDJackson]

The title refers to early-20th-century ruckman Roy Cazaly. Known for his prodigious leap, Cazaly formed a famous ruck combination with South Melbourne teammates Fred "Skeeter" Fleiter and Mark "Napper" Tandy. It was ruck-rover Fleiter who was the first to call "Up there, Cazaly!" when the ruckman flew for the ball. The catchcry was soon adopted by South Melbourne supporters and eventually entered the Australian lexicon as a common phrase of encouragement.

[@datwistyman]

Ha no shit hey. I always wondered what the hell that meant or where it came from 👍 Cheers for finally fill me in. 👍🙂

[@redhead3199]

It was also an early war time battle cry.

[@user-ec6vp8kw3q]

He was also responsible for renaming Hawthorn from the mayblooms to the Hawks.

[@magnalucian8]

Cazaly played 378 senior matches and was immortalized in the Hall of Fame as a Legend of the game

[@kellythomas1933]

Roy Cazaly was Tasmanian

[@neilsmithcreditmanager]

Mike Brady who wrote and sang this song also composed another footy song too; One Day in September… check that out too. Mike Brady is incredibly talented. I still get emotional listening to this all these years later!

[@markcaporn9789]

Named after Roy Cazaly, one of the original 12 Legends of AFL Hall of Fame. Known for his marks and rucking. Written and sung by Mike Brady. The iconic AFL song at GF time

[@Packager]

It's an absolute classic. It still gets a run on my ever-growing playlist, that's how symbolic/iconic it is.

[@lauraplumb7831]

A song from my childhood! They still play this on Grand Final day I think..and most people will know it.

[@macman1469]

They certainly do Laura, they certainly do.

[@NeilBlanco]

I grew up in NSW watching Rugby League and even I know all the words to it!

[@micheledix2616]

Many Aussies know all the words even if they are NOT mad keen AFLfans

[@rileybourke]

Being at the Grand Final when he sang this was absolutely spine tingling. Gets you so revved up for the game.

[@shaz464]

Every Aussie Rules fan knows “Up there Cazaly”. Still sung now at Grand Final time.

[@julieanderson7711]

100000 will sing this at grand final

[@kathleenkildare8688]

A song that takes me back to the 70s and 80s - it still gets played and a great reaction!

[@JudeAussie]

I’m not a footy fan but have always loved this song.

[@jennifer5130]

Football was different back then. Love the old matches

[@charliew4823]

Rob this song has never gone away and I doubt it ever will it's very hard to improve on perfection.

[@danielgrey5754]

"Up there Cazaly" refers as previous commenters have said to Roy Cazaly and his South Melbourne teammates in the early 20th century. There are unconfirmed reports that some members of the Australian Defence Forces during World War 2 shouted the phrase as they jumped out of trenches to face the Japanese in combat. Whatever the truth to that may be, the phrase was certainly known to returning soldiers in the post WW2 era, entered the Australian consciousness, and was picked as such by Mike Brady to compose the song.

[@elliebwe12234]

This song makes me emotional every grand final day when it’s performed. Our great game

[@zephyrmj]

very nostalgic to listen to that

[@skullandcrossbones65]

G'day, Come on Aussie, Not a football song, Still got sang at the MCG with a lot of enthusiasm.

[@Matthew_Scan]

Mike Brady singer and writer another English born Aussie Collingwood fan, it’s named after Roy Cazaly who played for South Melbourne

[@jasonfowler5266]

This is footy when it was tough.

[@andrewwhite2431]

Now you have gone down this rabbit hole you need to do the 1980 theme “ one day September and then move onto the mid 90s “ thats the thing about football”

[@lauraplumb7831]

Good suggestions! Also Holy Grail by Hunters and Collectors but the football version

[@Mimzula]

Footy Day in Primary school (normally the last day of school in September ) we would have school assemblies, our parents also there, be dressed in our team colours. We used to sings our football team songs, but also songs that had any relation to AFL. Up there Cazaly, and One Day in September were some of the ones I can remember learning to sing. We got like song books which had all the lyrics and we can all sing together. The only male teacher in our school always put together every year, and he was a very proud Doggies supporter. It was probably one of the days we looked forward to in school.

[@kenchristie9214]

Mike Brady started out in the mid 60's as the lead member in the group M.P.D. Limited. The group had two chart successes with Johnny Burnette's "Little Boy Sad" & Paul Anka's "Lonely boy".

[@pruebowtell3631]

I loved it when I was a teenager and I still listen to it whenever I am going to see the tiger's play, it always gets me hyped up

[@ibd1977]

Another "unofficial" footy anthem is Hunters & Collectors, The Holy Grail.

[@lealand423]

I was 9 years old when this song came out, all the kids were singing it, it will never get old.

[@jonsant7232]

This song and video is probably what got interest VFL/AFL shortly after moving to Australia. Roy Cazaly played for St. Kilda the team I support and South Melbourne who are now the Sydney Swans and I believe he played 99 games for both clubs. When the Swans moved to Sydney in the early 80s myself and some school mates went to watch them at the SGC and once you have experienced a live game with the amazing atmosphere of a packed stadium you are hooked well and truly.! Mike Brady still sings "up there Cazaly" at the AFL grand final every year

[@elizabeth10392]

The mark taken by No. 25 from Carlton, Alex Jesaulenko, is one of the famous marked ever taken and the picture of it took a full page of the newspaper, "The Herald". Jezza played in days when the players had day jobs.

[@joanneginever1890]

This is just awesome Rob. I have goosebumps, tears and actually all chocked up. 😭. I don't think any theme can beat this one. I could just listen to this over and over. I think the moderate pace at the beginning and then the explosion of power once they cross to the MCG is pure brilliance and what really makes this theme exceptional. Absolute gold 🌟. Love your take on it and your Channel is awesome. 👏💖👍 Ps. The song is about Victorian Football Hall of Fame player Roy Cazaly born in 1893, died in the 1960s. Known for his high leaps and very renowned footy star.

[@kerrihooke2261]

This totally takes me back....

[@Lnch4ALion]

Yes

[@petergreenham7235]

They really only use it around the grand final time

[@Dr_KAP]

Love this song.. but wow some of the marks in this video are mind-blowing!!

[@RobReacts1]

I think the marks may have been better than the song! haha

[@Dr_KAP]

@@RobReacts1 I swear those cricket pitches have secret trampolines hidden under the grass.

[@andrewhall7704]

A great song , look up “One day in September “. I know some of the Cazaly family down here in Hobart. It was number one for one week. Still gets played every footy season.

[@lynd395]

Cazaly’s son, Roy Cazaly Jnr, had a gym in Hobart. My Dad & I went there in the late 60’s/early 70’s until I moved to Melbourne in 1972 & Dad continued until about 6 months prior to his death from cancer (my Dad) in 1975.

[@AussieMarg]

Fly like an angel . . . And the clip is a much loved son from the Saints. RIP Trevor Barker 🔴⚪⚫

[@Wandafulofit]

Hopefully you DO get to the Grand Final this year Rob and I guarantee that when you hear this sung live with thousands cheering and singing, it will be a beautiful emotional journey... ANd you will probably cry

[@gangstertopo]

Footy back in the 70's was brutal. Its so much different now a days with all the new rule interpretations

[@randomsam7648]

It’s always song live on grand final day. With 100k signing along, it’s pretty special. Great vid, I Liked!!!

[@Matthew_Scan]

Essendon player near the end with the beard taking a mark , Simon Madden my favourite player as a kid in the 80s

[@peterhoz]

Mike Brady, the writer and singer, is a Pom who relocated to Melbourne. The actual phrase "Up There, Cazaly!", as stated in other comments, was coined regarding South Melbourne's Roy Cazaly. It also became a catchphrase used by Aussie soldiers in WW2, and was immortalised by this song. I was 8 going on 9 when it came out, I had a t shirt with the phrase on it, plus I had the 45RPM single! (And I lived in Sydney, Rugby League territory lol, but I knew which footy I preferred!).

[@diannesmith2249]

Mike Brady is a Collingwood supporter.

[@thatrandomaussiechick4107]

not a fan of footy but remember this fondly

[@vicki6496]

Was never into footy but these clips remind me of a competition that used to in the local newspaper. They had a picture of someone mid air and you had to guess where the footy was.

[@garybalranald6323]

The song gave me goose bumps when it came out. Still does.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Every Australian knows this song, if you don't sing along to it when it's played, you are called a mug!! 🤗👍 Well he's a football hero, he's football mad ..! 🤔 Roy Cazaly was a real person! 👍

[@shenysys]

Need to watch That's the thing about football by Greg Champion - corrected title

[@bonoroo5313]

Thanks for the memories Rob, good to see North at their peak.

[@RobReacts1]

haha you have a fair few years before they are potentially there again. I feel for you buddy

[@TBoneTony]

Fly like an Angel, Fight like a Devil. The words between Angel and Devil are almost like something from an early 70s Japanese Cartoon. The footage was from the late 70s, then early 60s to mid 70s before color TV came in. One highlight was footage of John Coleman the number 10 from Essendon back in the early 50s.

[@neilgill1639]

Nice reaction mate. I love this footy anthem by Mike Brady and it still gives me tingles up my spine every time I hear it or watch the video. Go Sainters! 🟥⬜⬛

[@jemxs]

Fantastic song for a fantastic game 👍

[@roberte5057]

Gives me goose pimples evert time I hear this song. Inspirational .

[@Paul77ozee]

I always love the water guy punching the apposing player.

[@marieravening927]

There's another song about Aussie rules football which compares the game to other football codes. They don't seem to play it now. It starts off, "Football football it's a game for sporting nuts" and goes on to belittle other codes. I always had a smile when the singer referred to Americans " playing football in padded bras."

[@baird55aus]

The songs are important. I was on a bus in Zhuhai China and saw a guy on the bus had a Western Bulldogs jumper on. On sand the first few words of their theme song and got a great thumbs up from him.

[@michaelfink64]

Hi Rob, this was written and performed by Mike Brady. He is still kicking around and he performs the song before every grand final. His voice isn't quite like it was at his peak, but still reasonable (at least better than Meatloaf's grand final performance, may he rest in peace, though that's not saying much). Roy Cazaly played for St Kilda and South Melbourne in the 1910s and 20s. He was renowned for his high marking skills and fellow players (and presumably the crowd) would yell "Up there, Cazaly" when he too a specky.

[@supergran62]

I love the monumental music change. The minute you hear the timpani beat and the music changes to the anthemic "Up There Cazaly" there is not an Aussie over 30 who won't sing along.

[@caltravels9454]

this song will forever be the anthem for Footy

[@kevinmaccallum336]

'Up There Cazaly' had its origins amongst the Australian soldiers serving in the Middle East during WW2. It was their battle cry. Roy Cazaly was a champion footballer during the inter-war years.

[@wallywombat164]

I'm far from being a cross country football fan but, i'm a great fan of ' Up there Cazaly '. Does the Country proud. Thank You.

[@joshkleine21]

Check out “Mike Brady Up There Cazaly 2018 Grand Final” for a great live performance of it.

[@melissabarrett9750]

It's such a product of the era though, but can still bring an emotional lump to the throat. Some years later, they abandoned this one for something more contemporary that didn't have as much raw emotion, but that I liked better. That song was Playing To Win which was done by the Little River Band when John Farnham was lead singer. I have that song on vinyl and still play it often.

[@datwistyman]

Love this song. Never knew what the hell it meant until today when someone in the comments here told you about it. Cheers to old mate for the explanation 👍

[@TheKira699]

The first "FLY LIKE AN ANGEL" bit was of Trevor Barker, St. Kilda Football Club aka The Saints. Rather clever editing. Unfortunately I think a lot of people have forgotten who Roy Cazaly was and how brutal this game was back then, now you basically can't talk to people funny.

[@kenchristie9214]

Back then quarters were 25 minutes, there was no interchange, players couldn't use their hands to push an opponent in his back or on his neck to take a mark. Players also had to kick the ball back into play from within the goal square after a point. If you couldn't kick more than 65 metres, you didn't kick out from goals.

[@osocool1too]

They still play Up there (Roy) Cazaly before each grand final...this years gf will be on Sept 24 in front of 100,000 spectators.

[@davidareeves]

You might also want to look up an old footy movie, The Club ;) We all grew up with this song, ah those Sundays at the footy and a meat pie

[@crazycatllady3675]

roy cazaly, perhaps the best player in the vfl , during the years 1911 to the 1920`s. legend of the game.

[@arconeagain]

You get it mate, it's uplifting. Next, you have to watch the film 'The Club'. Well, maybe after your Australian holiday.

[@leandabee]

Brilliant Brilliant song!! Everytime I hear it, I get the chill thing happening, and it's so Aussie 🥰👌. I let out a loud OH 💩, when the runner hit that Tigers player 😲😳, I haven't seen that one before 😅🤭

[@petercrispin2129]

Up There Cazaly is our National Anthem here in AFL - well ok unofficially and classified as the peoples song of the AFL, every AFL GF it gets played.

[@grandmasmagic3858]

I couldn't help myself Rob, I just had to join in and sing along...this is one of the best jingles ever...

[@Matthew_Scan]

Have a look at channel 9 World Series cricket song “new horizons “ written by Brian Bennett drummer from the Shadows

[@brianjarred340]

I met this guy ages ago

[@bernadettelanders7306]

I’ve only heard the first notes of the song. I’m ready to sing along 🎼

[@erose1710]

The footage was from before the Blood Rule came into all codes of football. In some of the old shots you can literally see blood running down players faces, not something you would really see today.

[@juleneyoung5053]

That’s the thing about football . is another great VFL /AFL song

[@peterflynn2111]

Still have the single after 43 years in perfect nick

[@AussieTVMusic]

I still have the record from 79. Btw they used to have match of the day here in Australia too before rupert got hold of it.

[@lcpholman]

Match of the Day theme tune - sounds like the soundtrack to a silent film 🤣

[@liliworth8098]

The whole of Australia knows “Up There Cazaly”… even those who don’t follow football. As for “Match of Day Theme tune” that’s a footy song in the UK. Being an Australian, I’ve never heard of it… sure it’s great if that’s your game. ⭐️

[@elisahelen]

I love it. Compares the humdrum of life to the buzz and high of the game. It's a real cult song with AFL. Every AFL fan is familiar with it.

[@itsben354]

Best song!!! Love it every year

[@melissaellis8796]

This song is so emotional to all of us footy fans. I was at the 1979 Grand Final when my team, Carlton, won the premiership. This was the year “Up there Cazaly” was released and was number one. I still rate that day as one of the highlights of my life!❤

[@rachelstevens7625]

I had to laugh when you said crossroads coz I haven't heard of it in 22 almost 23 years, and the match of the day theme well done

[@chrissneyd9278]

Thanks for this memory

[@TomMarvan]

Great reaction! Have a look, if possible, at the Come On Aussie Come on / World Series Cricket theme around this time.

[@patrickthomson8299]

another great song that has ties to footy is Holy Grail by the Hunters & Collectors. Wasn't originally about footy but sorta became about it cos the Premiership Cup is referred to as the 'Holy Grail'

[@dhenderson1810]

There's a clip on KZbin of the intro to "Seven's Big League" in 1985, which is to the tune of "Playin' To Win" by Little River Band. It is awesome.

[@FuryousD]

i mean this is a classic, the play it every year on grand final day.

[@JoTheSnoop]

One of my uncles, who is from Sydney and family grew up as rugby league and rugby union fans, bought the 45 RPM record and it was often played. On my phone, Match of the Day theme is used for notifications

[@georgepapa3385]

Rob You should look at the song for the 1994 season That’s what I like about Football by Greg Champion. By the way Up their Cazaly by Mike Brady is played at every Grand Final since 1979 and Derby County Fans use the tune for their song Steve Bloomer’s calling.

[@troy3886]

Still gives me goose bumps, as a kid this made me want to run through walls. Would watch it over and over

[@RugbyLeaguePassport]

The meerkats of Australian sport

[@Matthew_Scan]

Check out Mike Bradys one day in September too 👍

[@karenstrong8887]

Up there Cazaly will always be every teams football song. It is sung at every Grand Final and no tune will ever beat it. There was a Roy Cazaly who played 99 games between 1910 and 1920 for St Kilda. He went to South Melbourne in 1921 and became a superstar and played 99 more games. He was known as an amazing aerialist who was one of the first to fly high. His team mate, Fred Fletcher coined the phrase, Up there Cazaly. His name was used as a battle cry in WW2 by our troops. Roy Cazaly played over 400 games for Victoria and Tasmania. He became a coach in Tasmania. In 2005 he was named as an inaugural coaching legend in Tasmanian Football’s official Hall of Fame. Most of that was written by John Devaney. Roy Cazaly was decades ahead of his time. He didn’t drink or smoke, he believed in being very fit. He combined physical conditioning with an acute football brain. There is nothing soap like about that song. There is no better song. I once left a comment on Roy Cazaly and how well his name was known here but not always why. His Great Grandson thanked me for remembering him. You cannot watch a Grand Final with that song at half time and not feel. What do you mean by bring it back? It never left.

[@madswansfan1]

Hearing that live on a couple of grand final days at the MCG is one of the best experiences I’ve had.

[@leica_sl2]

At 1.16 Trevor Barker No1 for St Kilda. 2.27 Ted Whitten giving someboy a clout . 2.23 Alex Jesaulenko taking a mark I think in the 1970 Grand final(this mark was vote Mark of the 20th cent) . 2.38 Robert John "Bob" Skilton won the Brownlow Medal 3 times . 2.44 Peter HUDSON(Hawthorn) from Tasmania . 2.52 No10 StKilda Carl Ditterich . 3.04 I remember seeing this on the fotty reply on TV the next day the trainer who picks up the ball is from Carlton, Ithink it;s from either 1966 or 1967. 3.19 Peter McKenna No6 Collingwood. Just an end note , the film makers chose to record a Soccer crowd cheer.I beleieve it sumsup what Aussie Rules mean to Victoria.

[@cy_bels]

I don't know what you mean by bring this back. People still sing this. They trot this song out plenty in my opinion. This song is an absolute classic and we love to use it anytime we can.

[@shaundgb7367]

Strange time in late 70's. They make songs about sport and people actually put those songs in the musical charts. I think a year before this was a cricket jingle which not sure I would call a song but more like a musical jingle add. C'mon Aussie C'mon. I think Up There Cazaly was only a year or two later by football and then One Day in September was another footy song a year or so after that which more about the last Saturday in September which normally is grand final day.

[@dtrezy5223]

Interesting fact on this song. There's an English football club Derby County who's in the lower level. They have a song called Steve Bloomers watching and the song sounds just like Up There Cazaly.

[@rorygrummisch4907]

Very good song 🎵 the bloke how sung it was in England 🇬🇧 😀 from Rory Australia