It was only one week ago Little Telethon Star Aiden Narsico told Telethon just how much he would love to meet his hero — the Fremantle Dockers gun forward Josh Treacy.
Tonight, the nine-year-old’s dream is coming true in extraordinary fashion.
Aiden will run out onto Optus Stadium with his beloved Dockers before the sold-out home final against Hawthorn as the Bankwest Docker for a Day.
He will even run through the banner with the team, helping break open what could be one of the most memorable nights in Fremantle’s history.
When Aiden found out about his extraordinary opportunity on Monday, his reaction was immediate.
“Yay,” he said.
“That’s the most favourite day I will have in the world.”
The young Dockers fanatic jumped up and down when he heard he would get to run out with the team.
But before anything else, Aiden had a few questions.
“Do I get to watch the whole game?” he said.
“And is Alex Pierce going to break the banner first or am I going to break the banner first? I’m going to use all my muscles to break it.”
And Aiden has no doubt about what happens after the banner comes down.
He is tipping the top team of the 2026 regular season purple to not only topple Hawthorn in tonight’s clash, but go all the way.
“My prediction for the Dockers is they’re going to win the grand final,” he said.
Aiden was introduced to West Australians just a few days ago when he was announced as one of three 2026 Little Telethon Stars.
He lives with the extremely rare condition congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, which affects only about 1200 people worldwide.
The condition means Aiden has a lifelong tracheostomy and relies on a portable ventilator, which he carries with him wherever he goes.
Football has always been a huge part of his life, but Aiden has never been able to play the game himself because he has a cardiac pacemaker and must have limited physical contact.
Instead, he has found another way to be involved in the game he loves — he is the football manager at his school.
It is around the football field where Aiden is happiest.
And tonight, for a few precious hours, he will get the chance to forget his challenges and live like the football player he has always dreamed of becoming.
Bankwest’s general manager of customer, marketing and communications Rachel Aikin said the organisation was thrilled to help make Aiden’s dream a reality through its partnership with Telethon.
“We’re delighted to share the excitement and have found someone pretty special though our partnership with Telethon, to help us bring the hype on Thursday night as our Bankwest Docker for a Day,” Ms Aikin said.
“Aiden will certainly help bring the energy as he gets to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity to run out into a packed stadium on Thursday night with the team.
“Bankwest recognises what this finals series means to Fremantle fans and to WA, and we’re excited to celebrate with them as one of their most passionate fans in what could be a once-in-a-generation moment.”
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