Up There Cazaly singer Mike Brady almost missed AFL grand final
Mike Brady's performance of unofficial AFL anthem Up There Cazaly has been a fixture of the big day for decades. But it almost did not happen in 2026.
Legendary singer-songwriter Mike Brady, at 78, faced a harrowing fall in January while taking a routine walk near his Great Ocean Road home. The accident left him with severe injuries - fractured leg, ankle and foot in 12 places - forcing him to spend five months in hospital. Despite the odds, Brady vowed to perform his hit song Up There Cazaly, the unofficial AFL anthem, at the next two grand finals, including his 80th birthday.
After nine months of recovery, Brady triumphantly took to the stage on September 26, receiving a thunderous ovation from the 100,000-strong crowd. The emotion of performing the anthem, which he discovered gave him a sense of belonging when he was 19, resonated deeply with Brady, who now hopes to continue performing the song for the next two years, honoring the song's 50th anniversary.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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