Sport
17 April, 2025
Jedd takes to Marvel Stadium
Tomorrow will be a Good Friday for more than one reason as local teenager Jedd Arrowsmith gets set to run out the match day ball for North Melbourne in their clash with Carlton.
A diehard North supporter for as long as he can remember, 14-year-old Jedd will present the match ball to the umpires for tomorrow’s round six clash at Marvel Stadium.
Learning the news on Tuesday morning, the footy fanatic was almost beside himself.
“It was pretty exciting, I couldn’t have gotten out of bed quick enough to be honest,” Jedd said.
“When mum rang me and said North Melbourne had called her, straight away I was excited and knew something was going on.
“I’m pretty excited to get to run out with my side, getting to meet all the players and trying to get a few autographs will be good.”
Having undergone three open heart surgeries at The Royal Children’s Hospital, the first when he was just three days old, Jedd’s story is one of perseverance and overcoming the odds — a journey North Melbourne have shared with him from the beginning.
On his sixth birthday in 2017, Jedd tossed the coin at the beginning of North’s Good Friday match against the Western Bulldogs.
A year later he even had the honour of being a part of the team photo.
These all form core memories for the teenager, and all stem from a place very close to home — his dad, Mick Arrowsmith, who sadly died in September last year.
“I’m a North supporter because of dad, I don’t think I would’ve been a supporter of any other side,” Jedd said.
“I’ve got a very footy passionate family, my pop was a good footy player and dad was too. They were my main inspirations and got me into footy.”
When North Melbourne learned of Mick’s passing, getting their biggest fan involved in another Good Friday match was the least they could do.
“I appreciate all the club did for me when I was younger and I’m looking forward to being involved again and what Friday brings,” Jedd said.
When asked what he’s most excited about in the lead up to Friday’s match, there was little hesitation from Jedd, who can’t wait to see his favourite player, Harry Sheezel, in action.
“I went to the first game he played and he got 34 disposals, it was great,” he said.
A football tragic from the beginning, it’s no surprise Jedd has his eyes set on a future in the AFL, and while it might be a long way from the under 14 competition he currently plays in, he already has his eyes set on playing for his own club.
“In the end it doesn’t really matter, but I have my fingers crossed I’d be able to play for North Melbourne, that’s what I’d like to do,” he said.
North Melbourne’s Good Friday match against Carlton will kick off at 3.20 pm at Marvel Stadium and will be aired on Channel 7.