A Horsham youngster is still buzzing after rubbing shoulders with his football heroes in Melbourne earlier this month.

Banjo Koenig, 6, was the winner of AFL club Fremantle’s Docker for a Day competition for its game against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on May 1.

Banjo and his family were given access to the Fremantle players during their pre-game warmups and the youngster received a personalised Dockers playing kit.

His father Josh Koenig said Banjo was over the moon with the experience.

“Banjo got number 10 on the back of his jumper because he had to let the Dockers know who his favourite player was, and it’s Shai Bolton,” Mr Koenig said.

“We got to get up close and personal and Banjo was getting high fives from every player who ran past, which was really cool.

“The team really embraced him. A couple of the boys really went out of their way to deviate across to him and give him a footy to hold.

“Shai Bolton came across and stopped and had a longer chat with him, because they’d let him know he was his favourite player. 

“Banjo was pretty starstruck, as was I.”

Mr Koenig said Bolton also led Banjo onto the field as the club ran through the pre-game banner.

“As they were running out Shai grabbed Banjo by the hand and they ran through the banner together, which was awesome,” he said.

“The kids had a blast. It’s been Banjo’s claim to fame at school and at Auskick.”

Mr Koenig said Fremantle had continued to look after Banjo even after his Docker for a Day experience.

“In the excitement of it all he didn’t get a chance to ask the players for autographs, but the club has asked us to send across his jumper and they’ll get Shai to sign it,” he said.

“It’ll be a memory he won’t forget, that’s for sure. The only problem now is that it’s raised the expectations, because my daughter is now asking ‘when can I be Docker for a Day?’”

Mr Koenig thanked Fremantle for the experience.

“You never know in these types of situations whether they’re just doing it to tick a box, but they made it really special for him,” he said.

“It shows the importance of putting your hand up for things like this and getting involved, which Banjo always does.

“They’ve got a Docker for life in Banjo, that’s for sure.”  

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