Roy Cazaly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roy Cazaly |
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Cazaly taking a one-handed mark
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Roy Cazaly | ||
| Nickname(s) | Cazza | ||
| Date of birth | 13 January 1893 | ||
| Place of birth | Albert Park, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Date of death | 10 October 1963 (aged 70) | ||
| Place of death | Lenah Valley, Tasmania, Australia | ||
| Original team | Middle Park | ||
| Position(s) | Ruckman | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Roy Cazaly (born 13 January 1893 – died 10 October 1963) was a famous Australian rules football player. He played for the St Kilda and South Melbourne teams in the VFL. Roy also played for his home states, Victoria and Tasmania. After he stopped playing, he became a coach.
Roy Cazaly was known for his amazing ability to jump high and catch the ball. This move is called a "mark" in Australian rules football. His skills inspired the famous saying, "Up there, Cazaly!" This phrase later became a popular song in 1979. It helped make him a true legend in Australian folklore. Roy Cazaly was one of the first 12 players to be named a "Legend" in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
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Roy Cazaly's Early Life
Roy Cazaly was born in Albert Park, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. This was on 13 January 1893. He was the tenth child in his family. His father, James Cazaly, was a well-known rower. His mother, Elizabeth, was a midwife and used herbs for medicine.
Roy Cazaly's Football Journey
Roy learned to play football at his local school. He quickly became the best "ruckman" on his team. A ruckman is a player who tries to tap the ball down to his teammates after a bounce or throw-in. In 1910, he tried out for the Carlton Football Club. But he left after hurting his shoulder and not getting help from the team's doctors.
Playing for St Kilda
Roy then joined another VFL team, St Kilda. He played his first senior game in 1911. This happened during a players' strike, so many regular players were not playing. Roy was one of nine new players on the team that day. He played 99 games for St Kilda.
Playing for South Melbourne
In 1920, Roy left St Kilda and joined South Melbourne. He coached the team in 1922. In 1926, he won an award for being South Melbourne's most consistent player. During the 1930s, when many people struggled for work, Roy worked on the Melbourne waterfront. He also played football with other workers in a special midweek competition.
Becoming a VFL Star
Roy Cazaly was famous for his amazing high marks. He could jump very high to catch the ball, even though he was not a very tall player. His teammates would shout "Up there, Cazzer!" when he jumped. This became the famous phrase "Up there, Cazaly!" Roy practiced his jumping by leaping at a ball hung in a shed at his home. He believed holding his breath helped him jump higher. He could also kick a football over 65 meters. In 2009, a newspaper called The Australian named Roy one of the 25 greatest footballers who never won the Brownlow Medal.
Roy Cazaly's Coaching Career
In 1928, Roy moved to Launceston, Tasmania. He later returned to Victoria in 1931 to coach Preston. He coached several other teams, including South Melbourne (1937–1938) and Hawthorn (1942–1943). While coaching Hawthorn, he is said to have given them their nickname, the "Hawks." He thought it sounded tougher than their old nickname, the "Mayblooms."
Roy Cazaly's Lasting Impact
Roy Cazaly played many football games in his career. He played 198 VFL games and 124 games in Tasmanian leagues. He also played in many state games. He was 180 centimeters tall, which is not very tall for a ruckman. But his amazing jumping made up for it. He was also very fit. Roy stopped playing competitive football in 1941 when he was 48 years old.
After his playing days, he coached the New Town team to win several championships in Tasmania. Roy Cazaly passed away in Hobart on 10 October 1963. His son, also named Roy, played football after World War II.
The famous shout "Up there, Cazaly!" was even used as a battle cry by Australian soldiers during World War II. It is also the name of a famous song released in 1979 by Mike Brady.
In 1996, Roy Cazaly was honored as one of the first "Legends" in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Cazalys Stadium in Cairns, Queensland, is named after him.
