HBL Auskicker Beau Tucker, 7, set for centre stage at MCG as medal presenter for 2022 AFL grand final

An Australind boy is set to have the experience of a lifetime as he takes part in the nation’s biggest sporting event.

Beau Tucker, 7, will travel to Melbourne this week for the AFL grand final as one of the nominees for the 2022 Auskicker of the Year.

Along with presenting a medal to a premiership player, Beau is also set to take part in the grand final parade and meet the other Auskicker of the Year nominees.

It comes after the youngster flew to Melbourne earlier this year after he received the round 13 nomination after submitting a video showing off his footy skills, where he was interviewed by Hamish McLachlan on live TV.

His father Kelby Tucker said Beau had a great experience.

“He wasn’t overwhelmed,” Mr Tucker said.

“He took it in his stride.”

Beau also attended this year’s Big Freeze at the G game between Collingwood and Melbourne. He played on the MCG field on both occasions.

He has just wrapped up his third year playing Auskick with the Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault Lions, having played for both HBL and the Marist Junior Football Club in 2020 and 2021.

Like his father, Beau barracks for Collingwood. Pies forward Jack Ginnivan is his favourite player, with Mr Tucker describing his son’s love for the rising star.

“His mum is a hairdresser and cuts his hair to Jack’s style,” he said.

“When Jack dyed his hair blonde, Beau went blonde. When his hair had a trim, Beau’s hair had a trim.”

When the Reporter spoke to Beau last week prior to the Pies’ one point loss to Sydney, he said his hope for his trip to Melbourne was to “give a premiership medal to Jack Ginnivan”.

When asked what he likes the most about his hero, Beau replied “his snaps and his hair”.

He has been fortunate enough to meet his idol, with the family having bumped into Ginnivan’s father at a Fremantle v Collingwood match in earlier this year.

“We went and had dinner with him at The Camfield and he organised for us to meet Jack when we came over to Melbourne,” Mr Tucker said.

“We then went and met him at a Collingwood training session.”

With the Pies defeated, Beau is now hoping to give the premiership medal to Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.

It is a major upgrade for Beau, who last year presented a premiership medal at the SWFL grand final.

He is not the only local set to take centre stage at this year’s AFL grand final, with Harvey’s Clay Hall set to play in the Futures Match before the big game.