But not when your name is Zachary Stephens. The avid Collingwood supporter, at the young age of 11, refused to let the ambulance officers cut off his Collingwood guernsey.

“I was really upset, it was my only guernsey,” Zach said.

“I had just got the signatures of all the players too. It took me almost three years.”

Zach was riding his scooter on Monday 9 August, with his friend when he was hit while crossing the road. “My friend crossed first, and then told me there were no cars. I checked, and I didn’t see any cars so I crossed.

“I got halfway across the road when a car appeared. I stepped back and got hit.”

Zach blacked out and woke up on the grass. His parents rushed to the scene as soon as they received the call from the driver of the four-wheel drive.

To his disappointment, the jumper had to be cut, but Zach kept what was left of the guernsey.

“Helen Matthews, our family friend, sewed it back together for me. Now it’s too small to wear.”

Zach has been barracking for Collingwood since the age of five. The support for Collingwood runs though his whole family.

“My favourite moment was when Collingwood beat Geelong. I was watching at home, but I wish I was there to watch it live.”

Zach’s favourite player is Alan Didak. His signature was on the old guernsey too.

When a photographer went and showed Zach’s picture to the Collingwood Football Club, they gave Zach a surprise.

“I heard Alan Didak went and bought me a new guernsey. He left me a get well soon message and personally signed it,” Zach said.

“He was supposed to come and give it to me himself but he was at training. The photographer left it at the hospital’s front desk.”

Zach’s dad, John Stephens, received the jumper and surprised Zach in his hospital bed.

“I was rapt!”

But what about the old guernsey?

“We’re thinking of framing it.” Zach said.

Mr Stephens thanks all the people involved.

“A big thankyou to the nurses and doctors at Dandenong Hospital, all the people at the scene and Rob and Renee for taking the time to visit Zach a couple of times.” John said.

“They never want to take any credit but they were invaluable,” he said.