The Standard reporter Anthony Brady tells how the most famous football song of them all was a hit in a busy local footy heartland.
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Sometimes things just hit the sweet spot.
The depths of the 1979 winter was one such occasion.
It was in the heart of another football season, with the gloom of cold days and colder nights tempered by the hope your football team would bring you joy at the week's end.
In the July of 45 years ago, a magic moment happened that has not, and will not, ever be matched.
Of all people, an English born singer-songwriter was commissioned by Channel 7 to come up with a catchy tune to promote its football coverage.
The energetic and talented Mike Brady was the chosen one, taking on the challenge with vigour, drawing on the passion for the game around him, and from its history pages.
Brady discovered a South Melbourne and St Kilda footballer from the early part of the 20th century, Roy Cazaly.
It was Cazaly's ability to take a big mark that led to a battle cry of "Up there, Cazaly" which they used during World War 2.
Brady knew high-marking was a unique part of Australian Rules Football and couldn't resist weaving such a magnificent catchcry into the tune.
It turned out to be a masterstroke, with the song "Up there, Cazaly" going way beyond a jingle for a television coverage.
The song became an instant anthem, its lyrics rang true with football lovers, and its tune built to a crescendo that stirred the fans like never before.
Add to this a film clip that showed the fans and their on-field heroes as equal participants in this phenomenon that was VFL football.
In the football loving south-west, Up There Cazaly and the hype around it had not gone unnoticed.
The song had been played on Channel 7 and was also getting extensive radio play.
On July 5, 1979, The Standard reported the Up There Cazaly single would go on sale at Warrnambool record shops.
This was a highly anticipated event, with customers having badgered the record shops staff as to when they could get their hands on the famous 45.
A spokesman for A.G. Smith record shop in Warrnambool said the demand was unprecedented.
"Everyone wants it," he said.
It was a similar story over the road at Kris Kerr Record Bar.
A spokeswoman from the store said she had been told sales were strong for the single in Melbourne and this was expected to be the case in Warrnambool as well.
Up There Cazaly was released during a football golden era.
In the VFL, powerhouse clubs Carlton and Collingwood were at the top end of the ladder, something that always brought the city to fever pitch.
Back down in the south-west, and there was plenty happening at the time.
Tommy Smith had been selected to play for Fitzroy reserves after the Lions liked what they saw of the young Russells Creek ruckman.
He was the second player of the 1979 season from the district league to step out in the VFL, with Grassmere forward Keith McLeod having made his senior debut for Fitzroy earlier in the season.
In the district league, it was Merrivale who was showing the way by the middle of July.
The Tigers had last won the premiership in 1958 but were flying under the leadership of former Camperdown big man Bert Peperkamp. Robbie Lowe and full-forward Peter Weuffen were stars for the Tigers.
Country football clubs always rely on big families to fill their ranks, and that was certainly happening at East Warrnambool.
In all five teams through the club's ranks, under 12, 14, 16, 18 and seniors, there was a Kelson named.
They included brothers Noel, Tim, Glen, Greg and first cousin Gerry.
Cobden and Terang were leading the way in the Hampden league with the Couch brothers, Bill and Peter, prominent for the Bloods.
The big news off the field was Colac and Coragulac had announced they would be pursuing an amalgamation for the 1980 season.
The Saturday night entertainment after the game was lively, with options including Granny's Grave at the Lady Bay Hotel and The Bushwackers at the Tatts Hotel.
Meanwhile, TV stars of the day were plastered over the pages of the newspaper, with Paul Hogan the face of a full-page advertisement for a well known cigarette brand, while the Lanky Yank, Don Lane, was singing the virtues of The Windsor Hotel in Melbourne.
