Mike Brady performs Up There Cazaly at AFL Grand Final after severe fall

Mike Brady performed his unofficial AFL anthem “Up There Cazaly” at the AFL grand final on September 26, after recovering from a severe fall earlier in the year that left him with fractures in 12 places, according to abc.net.au and newsdive.net. The 78-year-old musician walked onto the stage without a walking stick before a crowd of 100,000, defying medical expectations that he would not be able to walk anytime soon.

The January fall occurred during a routine evening walk near Brady’s Great Ocean Road home, where he landed on his backside and fractured his leg, ankle, and foot in 12 places, abc.net.au reported. He described twisting his ankle back into place and dragging himself to a nearby fire station while leaving a trail of blood and mud. Following five months in the hospital, including a stay in palliative care, Brady transitioned from a wheelchair to crutches and eventually a walking stick.

Brady Struggles Mentally During Nine Month Hospital Recovery

abc.net.au reported that Brady’s doctor advised him against pushing himself and stated it was unlikely he would walk anytime soon. Reflecting on the nine-month recovery process, Brady told abc.net.au that he struggled mentally during his time in hospital care.

I wasn’t doing well. I was waking up and felt like the place was closing in on me. I was put in a palliative care place, and that was tough because I felt like I shouldn’t be there.

abc.net.au

When the AFL asked if he could still perform at the grand final, Brady vowed to be there even if he had to crawl. I said, ‘Try and stop me,’ he told abc.net.au, Because I love it. It’s a part of me. Newsdive.net noted that his determination was driven partly by a fear that the AFL might not ask him back if he declined the invitation.

Brady Sings for 100,000 People at Grand Final

On September 26, Brady discarded his walking stick to make his grand final appearance. He described the moment to abc.net.au, stating that singing in front of 100,000 people gave him the strength to fly.

At the beginning of the song, I’m singing it kind of normally, but then I thought, ‘I’ve got this, I’m going to be able to sing it!’ I sang harder than I’ve ever sung before. One hundred thousand people reacted, and the roar — I’ve never heard anything like it. It was fantastic. I felt absolutely vindicated for pushing myself so hard.

abc.net.au

Newsdive.net noted that the audience response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, dispelling any doubts the artist held about his return.

English Immigrant Brady Finds Belonging Through VFL Music

Both abc.net.au and newsdive.net detailed Brady’s background as an English immigrant who moved to Melbourne at age 11. He had never attended a full AFL game when he was initially asked to compose a marketing jingle for the Victorian Football League.

When he first performed “Up There Cazaly” at the 1979 VFL grand final, introduced by John Farnham, Brady said he felt a true sense of belonging in Australia for the first time. I really felt like I belonged in Australia, he told abc.net.au, I’d never felt that before. But hearing men and women in the crowd shouting, ‘Good on ya, Mike’, I really felt the warmth.

Reflecting on his decades-long association with the anthem, Brady told abc.net.au, I often say the smile on my face when I sing it is actually me chuckling at the irony. I love the irony of being a Pommy immigrant that was taken to heart by so many Australian people, and if that’s not a great honour, I don’t know what is.

Brady Aims to Perform for Upcoming Milestones

During his recovery, Brady spent his time writing new poetry and music rather than dwelling on past injuries. Looking ahead, both abc.net.au and newsdive.net reported that he aims to perform “Up There Cazaly” for the next two years to coincide with the song’s 50th anniversary and his own 80th birthday.

I just hope the crowd is as kind to me as they have been for all those 48 years, Brady said, according to abc.net.au.