She always sits by the race to watch her beloved Crows in Melbourne, but nine-year-old Junior Member Charlotte Nielsen will join her heroes on the ground at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Charlotte was chosen as the latest lucky winner of Adelaide’s Victorian Junior Member Mascot competition.
To be entered into the draw, junior Crows fans simply had to sign on as Victorian Members for Season 2016. Current Victorian Junior Members were automatically in the running.
Winners were then selected at random and invited to join the team as they run out for their next game in Victoria.
Charlotte’s mother, Natalie, said the whole family was thrilled when they received the news.
“It’s amazing! We can’t wait,” she said.
“Eddie Betts is Charlotte’s favourite player, and we often go to games and sit by the race and he always high-fives her. He’s also given her a few autographs before too. He’s very obliging when it comes to giving fans some of his time.
“She’s so excited that she’ll get to run out there with Eddie and Tex.”
The Club has already signed up almost 1,500 Victorian Members for 2016. Join the Club as a Victorian Member today and juniors will receive a free invitation to Sunday’s Member’s Day in Melbourne.
Natalie moved from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1998 and met her husband – a Saints fan – in Victoria. The couple knew their football allegiances would become a sticking point once they settled down to start a family.
“He’s a St Kilda supporter so there was a bit of a family struggle with who our daughter was going to barrack for,” Natalie said.
“I’m quite a passionate Crows supporter, so I took Charlotte to a few games early and managed to win that little battle!”
After this weekend’s clash with the Bulldogs, Adelaide still has three premiership season games to play in Victoria in 2016, including back-to-back games at the MCG in Rounds 15 and 16.