My grandparent’s house, September 2022.

Footy fever runs high in my family. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows us that we celebrate the AFL grand final with the same gusto and enthusiasm we take to Christmas and birthdays.

This 2022 premiership battle between Geelong and Sydney is no different. Nan’s themed cupcakes sit in the centre of the table, surrounded by packets of Smith’s chips and Arnott’s biscuits. As Hamish McLachlan announces that we’re inching closer to the first bounce, we gather around the coffee table, eyes locked on the television.

The retirees and award winners are on their lap of honour. I’ve followed in the footsteps of my grandfather and signed up for trials and tribulations that comes with being a Blues supporter, so I can’t help but feel a rush of pride as Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps and Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow appear on screen. My cheering is quickly met with disagreement from the motley bunch of Essendon, North Melbourne, Bulldogs, St Kilda and Hawthorn supporters that make up my family.

We quieten down as the camera zooms in on one man and his guitar in the centre of the MCG. Mike Brady. It’s time for Up There Cazaly, the unofficial football anthem. His guitar strums ripple through the MCG and reverberate through the living room. His voice strong and steady. When he hits that chorus, we can’t help but join in.

Up there Cazaly, in there and fight, out there and at ’em, show ’em your might.

 This song is decades older than me, but the words come naturally.

Up there Cazaly, don’t let ’em in, fly like an angel, you’re out there to win

The very best parts of footy live in Mike Brady’s voice, while singing along its easy to forget that we are divided by colours of our scarves and guernseys. Right now, we all belong to football.

Up there Cazaly, show ’em your height, fight like the devil, the crowd’s on your side.

 The crowd’s on your side.

 As crowd at the MCG roars the song to its epic conclusion, my aunt announces from the kitchen that the party pies are ready. Ten minutes to first bounce.

Stereo Story #741

 
 
Geelong defeated  Sydney by 81 points in the 2022 Grand Final.

The 2023 Grand Final on Saturday 30 September will be between Collingwood and Brisbane.

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Hannah Davies is a student and bookseller based in Melbourne. When not reading or writing, she likes to bounce between hobbies and fuss over her geriatric cat.