AS if playing in front of 100,000 supporters at the MCG on grand final day wasn’t enough for a five-year-old, Walbundrie’s Hayden Wardius was given an extra thrill.

Wardius was one of the 22 lucky Auskickers who were invited to present medallions to the victorious Hawthorn players.

Children and parents were kept in the dark as to which youngster would be presenting to which footballer.

Hayden’s father, Kevin, sat in the crowd eagerly waiting to see which jumper his son would be wearing when he emerged from the race after the game.

Would it be Shane Crawford’s No.9? Luke Hodge’s No.15? Or perhaps captain Sam Mitchell’s No.5?

When Hayden ran onto the ground wearing Lance “Buddy” Franklin’s No. 23 guernsey, his father quickly rang the little guy’s mother, Cindy, at home in Walbundrie.

“When Kevin told us he was presenting the medal to Buddy Franklin we all went a little bit insane,” Mrs Wardius said.

“It was surreal seeing him on the television.”

Mrs Wardius said she was surprised by how calmly Hayden dealt with all of the fanfare.

“I thought he might have chickened out, but he handled it all fine,” she said.

“It was a very long weekend for a five-year-old to take in but it was a wonderful experience.

“I think it will take a while for the enormity of the experience to dawn on him but we’ll try to make sure it lives on in his memory.

“He wasn’t a Hawks supporter before he went but he says he is one now.”

Despite conceding that shaking Buddy Franklin’s hand was “good”, Hayden said the weekend was memorable for another reason.

“It was my first time I’ve been in a plane ... it was really exciting,” he said.