These are the three kids integral to Queensland's successful campaign to snatch the AFL Grand Final from its Victorian heartland - Milan Wellington, Ryden Clarke and Hamish Carr starred in the government's bid to host the grand final on October 24.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It will be the first time ever the game has been played outside Victoria.
The Redbacks stars were filmed running out onto the hallowed turf ground two weeks ago, after Ryden's mother Michelle received a call out of the blue, asking to get kids involved.
"On the Tuesday we got the call, an we were on our way to the Gabba on the Wednesday," Mrs Clarke said.
"They filmed them at the Gabba for a couple of hours."
The youngsters were called back for a second round of filming on the following Sunday.
A whirlwind two weeks was capped off by Wednesday's confirmation the big game would be in Brisbane.
The kids were in the front row of dignitaries at the Gabba's Cricketers Club with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk when the code's chief executive, Gil McLachlan, announced the successful bid.
READ MORE:
But Mrs Clarke's said they had suspected they were part of history before the announcement.
"We suspected when we saw on the news the cup and Gil getting off the plane at Brisbane," she said,
It is a special moment for Mrs Clarke, a Victorian whose father Ern was Collingwood president in the 1970s.
"I grew up every week watching Collingwood," she said.
.The link to the club continues today.
"Ryden and I have been to watch all the Collingwood's games this season," Mrs Clarke said.
Redbacks president Tom Vidoni said it was a coup for the code and his club, but he was not allowed to divulge exactly when he found out.
"When Gil McLachlan gets off a plane at Brisbane holding the AFL cup, it's a fair indication the game is coming to Queensland," he said.
He said it was huge news which would change the code.
"This is massive," Mr Vidoni said.
"In my opinion, it makes it open for every state to put a bid in.
"You can only imagine the other states will want to have it. It is something the other states will now be vying for.
"It's not the same anymore - 2020 proved that it is a game changer."
Mrs Clarke said the family was thrilled with Ryden's new fame.
"We are very proud of him," she said.