Good Friday Appeal 2017: Jedd to toss coin before first AFL Good Friday match

LITTLE North Melbourne fan Jedd Arrowsmith, who will toss the coin before the first AFL Good Friday match, has battled more than most footy stars before he even turned six.

LITTLE Jedd Arrowsmith has battled more than most footy stars before he even turned six.

The North Melbourne fan was born with multiple heart defects, has had three open heart surgeries, numerous operations and faces still more.

So after spending long stints at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Jedd reckons the concept of a Good Friday footy match to raise funds for kids kicks goals on many fronts.

Today also happens to be his birthday and he will toss the coin before his beloved Kangaroos take on Western Bulldogs in the inaugural Kick for the Kids at Etihad Stadium.

Kangaroos defender Jamie Macmillan will wear a special pair of footy boots adorned with Jedd’s name for the match.

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North Melbourne footballer Jaimie Macmillan with six-year-old Jedd Arrowsmith. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

And Jedd can hardly wait to get the party started. “It’s a good present getting to flip the coin on my birthday,’’ he said.

Jedd was rushed to the Royal Children’s for heart surgery when he was just three days old.

Despite spending the following 11 weeks in the hospital, another open heart operation was required again when he reached six months and again when he turned two.

Jedd’s mum, Nicole, said the family had spent “a great deal of time at the RCH’’ and was “extremely blessed to still have our amazing little boy’’.

The Kangaroos are digging into their own pockets to pledge $10,000 to the RCH appeal. Macmillan said the club would donate its entire AFL Player’s Care fund.