Roy Cazaly
Encyclopedia
Roy Cazaly was an Australian rules football
player famous for his high marks
and ruck work, which gave rise to the phrase "Up There Cazaly
".
, a suburb of Melbourne
, on 13 January 1893. He was the tenth child of English-born James Cazaly and his wife Elizabeth Jemima (née McNee), a midwife and herbalist from Scotland.
He learnt his football at the local state school, quickly becoming its first-choice ruckman. He made his debut in the Victorian Football League for St Kilda in 1911. His first game came during a players' strike, when many of St Kilda's regular senior players refused to play as a result of a dispute with the club's commitee over dressing rooms. He played 99 matches with St Kilda.
. He coached that club in 1922, and won South's most consistent player award in 1926.
Cazaly was famous for his ability to take spectacular marks despite his small stature, and at South Melbourne a teammate, Fred "Skeeter" Fleiter
, would often yell "Up there, Cazaly", a phrase that would become synonymous with Australian rules football. He initially developed his marking ability by jumping at a ball strung up in a shed at his home, and held his breath as he jumped, an action that he believed lifted him higher. He also possessed the capacity to kick a football over 65 metres. In 2009 The Australian
nominated Cazaly as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow Medal
.
, before returning in 1931 to coach Preston
in the Victorian Football Association. His subsequent return to Tasmania was punctuated by short stints as non-playing coach of South Melbourne (in 1937–1938), playing coach of Camberwell
(in 1941) and non-playing coach of Hawthorn
(in 1942–1943), and as non-playing assistant coach of South in 1947. While coaching Hawthorn, he was reported to have given the club its nickname the "Hawks" as he saw it as tougher than their original nickname the "Mayblooms".
premierships. After his retirement from football, he was involved in many business ventures before his death in Hobart
on 10 October 1963. His son, Roy junior, played for New Town after World War II.
The famous line of "Up there, Cazaly" was used a battle cry by Australian forces during World War II.
It is also the name of a song
, released in 1979 by Mike Brady
and Two-Man Band.
Cazaly was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996 as one of the inaugural twelve Legends.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player famous for his high marks
Mark (Australian football)
A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground....
and ruck work, which gave rise to the phrase "Up There Cazaly
Up There Cazaly
"Up There Cazaly" is an Australian sporting catchphrase inspired by former St Kilda and South Melbourne great Roy Cazaly...
".
Early life/career
Cazaly was born in Albert ParkAlbert Park, Victoria
Albert Park is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip. At the 2006 Census, Albert Park had a population of 5827....
, a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, on 13 January 1893. He was the tenth child of English-born James Cazaly and his wife Elizabeth Jemima (née McNee), a midwife and herbalist from Scotland.
He learnt his football at the local state school, quickly becoming its first-choice ruckman. He made his debut in the Victorian Football League for St Kilda in 1911. His first game came during a players' strike, when many of St Kilda's regular senior players refused to play as a result of a dispute with the club's commitee over dressing rooms. He played 99 matches with St Kilda.
VFL fame
In 1920 he left St Kilda, signing with South MelbourneSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. He coached that club in 1922, and won South's most consistent player award in 1926.
Cazaly was famous for his ability to take spectacular marks despite his small stature, and at South Melbourne a teammate, Fred "Skeeter" Fleiter
Fred Fleiter
Fred "Skeeter" Fleiter was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the VFL.Fleiter played as a ruck rover and made his league debut in 1919. He played his career beside ruckman Roy Cazaly and is credited with coming up for the famous phrase "Up there Cazaly"...
, would often yell "Up there, Cazaly", a phrase that would become synonymous with Australian rules football. He initially developed his marking ability by jumping at a ball strung up in a shed at his home, and held his breath as he jumped, an action that he believed lifted him higher. He also possessed the capacity to kick a football over 65 metres. In 2009 The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
nominated Cazaly as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Coaching career
In 1928 he departed Victoria and headed for Launceston, TasmaniaLaunceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, before returning in 1931 to coach Preston
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
in the Victorian Football Association. His subsequent return to Tasmania was punctuated by short stints as non-playing coach of South Melbourne (in 1937–1938), playing coach of Camberwell
Camberwell Football Club
Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore dark blue, white and red club colours...
(in 1941) and non-playing coach of Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
(in 1942–1943), and as non-playing assistant coach of South in 1947. While coaching Hawthorn, he was reported to have given the club its nickname the "Hawks" as he saw it as tougher than their original nickname the "Mayblooms".
Legacy
He is known to have played 378 senior matches (including 13 interstate matches for Victoria and 5 for Tasmania). Throughout his career he stood at just 180 centimetres (5 feet 11 inches) and was incredibly fit. He retired from competitive football in 1941 at the age of 48. Later, he coached (non-playing) New Town to a number of Tasmanian Football LeagueTasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
premierships. After his retirement from football, he was involved in many business ventures before his death in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
on 10 October 1963. His son, Roy junior, played for New Town after World War II.
The famous line of "Up there, Cazaly" was used a battle cry by Australian forces during World War II.
It is also the name of a song
Up There Cazaly
"Up There Cazaly" is an Australian sporting catchphrase inspired by former St Kilda and South Melbourne great Roy Cazaly...
, released in 1979 by Mike Brady
Mike Brady
Michael Brady may refer to:* Michael Brady, retired U.S.-English soccer player, coach of the American University women’s soccer team* Mike Brady , American professional golfer* Mike Brady , Australian musician...
and Two-Man Band.
Cazaly was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996 as one of the inaugural twelve Legends.