Most parents would be mortified if their little boy gave the middle finger to strangers. Here's why a footy star had a range of T-shirts made up when his son did it in front of thousands of fans

Jeremy McGovern’s son, Hudson, stole the show on Sunday afternoon, while his dad completed a lap of honour at the Optus Stadium.

The Eagles legend returned to the field at the 60,000-seater stadium to bid goodbye to West Coast fans following his retirement announcement.

Alongside fellow 2018 premiership hero Dom Sheed, McGovern lapped up the applause from the crowd at half-time during his former club's defeat by Adelaide.

He was joined on the field by members of his family, including his young son, Hudson, who upstaged his dad after he cheekily flipped his middle finger up at spectators inside the Optus.

After a video of Hudson flipping the bird went viral, the Eagles hero and his son are taking full advantage of the moment to kick-start a drive for charitable donations, announcing they were launching a new line of clothing. 

The pair have printed a now viral photo of Hudson flipping the bird at Eagles fans during his dad’s lap of honour onto a suite of T-shirts, which are being called ‘The Bird Tee’. They will sell the shirts online, with all profits set to be donated to a charity.

The pair have not picked out the charity they would like to give the funds to, asking fans on social media to give their suggestions on which not-for-profit organisation should receive the donations. 

The pair announced the brilliant move with a hilarious video on Instagram.

In the clip, which was published on Streetx’s Instagram feed, the former Eagles defender is seen standing behind his son, before introducing the campaign.

Hilariously, Hudson was seen cutting a straight face, looking directly down the camera, as he raised both his middle fingers.

‘G’day guys, we’re down here at Streetx with "The Give 'Em The Bird Tee”,’ McGovern said.

‘If you’re a bad boy, stick your hands in your pockets and come grab one. They’re online now.

‘If you’re a real, real bad boy, dig deep because everything is going to charity.’

Streetx revealed that fans have just 72 hours to snap up their own shirt.

After Hudson performed the hilarious gesture, many Eagles fans took to social media to joke that the youngster could cop a fine from the AFL.

It comes after their star man, Harley Reid, was slapped with a $1,000 fine earlier this year, after he flipped the bird to Brisbane fans following the Eagles' defeat by the Lions at The Gabba in Round Two.

Even the West Coast’s No 1 draft pick, Reid, joined in the comments on a TikTok of the viral clip, hilariously writing: ‘Respect.’

‘Suspended for two games,’ another fan joked, while one said: ‘$2,000 fine by the AFL,’ another added.

‘More like Harley Reid Jr,’ another joked, while one said: ‘Sign him up now.’

Eagles legend McGovern announced his retirement back in June due to medical reasons.

Having had time to reflect on the decision, the 33-year-old premiership legend said he was ‘at peace with the call’.

‘The game demands a lot from players and, in this instance, it is unlucky for me but at the same time, there’s a beauty to it that it can be taken away at any time,’ he explained.

‘I hope everyone cherishes it and understands what our players go through every time they run out on that footy field. It’s sad not getting the fairytale, but I’m at peace with it.

‘It’s the right decision.’