Nine-year-old Declan Corby has been selected as the Bendigo Bank Mighty Mascot for Friday night’s Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval. 

The Modbury Hawks player and junior Crows member was selected as the winner of the Crows Children’s Foundation competition to run out with the Crows ahead of the team’s clash with Geelong.

Declan, who has a prosthetic leg, has been playing football since he was five and hopes to one day be the first amputee to play AFL.

The passionate young fan had his right leg amputated when he was 18 months old due to a birth defect which meant his fibula didn’t grow and his foot didn’t form properly. 

Speaking at training on Thursday where he had an opportunity to meet the team and have a kick on Adelaide Oval, Declan said it was amazing to be picked.

“I was jumping all over the couch and couldn’t believe it when mum told me,” he said.

“Eddie is my favourite but I’m going to run out with Tex. He said I can break the banner first.”

Declan’s mum Chris had already managed to get Declan a ticket to Friday’s game, so she has donated the two Preliminary Final tickets which accompanied the mascot opportunity back to the Crows Children’s Foundation to give to another young fan who has never had the means to attend a game before the chance to go.

The tickets were originally donated to the Club by a generous member who was keen to provide the opportunity to a child.

Crows Children’s Foundation Manager Louise McDonald said the Club was blown away by the volume and scope of entries to the mascot competition.

“There were many deserving candidates and we will be looking to provide some of the nominees tickets to attend a Crows game during the 2018 season,” McDonald said.

“We thank everyone for supporting the Club so passionately and we now also have a database of kids to call upon should there be an opening to be a Bendigo Bank  Mighty Mascot in 2018.”