The touching moment a player bent down to tie an opponent’s shoelaces has captured the hearts of footy fans across Australia.

Cameras captured the moment a Hermit Park player bending down to tie the shoelaces of an opponent with a disability.

The gesture went viral as fans applauded the human touch on show.

And it was later topped when players of AFL Townsville’s Hermit Park Tigers and Northern Beaches Suns’ reserve grade teams ensured the player booted a goal.

Hermit Park president Brennan Gibson explained that Northern Beaches had permission to play the young man Rhys as a 23rd player throughout the season and that he had described the goal as the “best day of his life.”

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“I saw one of our players notice his shoelaces were undone and give him a hand and then I went down to our bench to our reserves coaches and said to them ‘we’ve got to give his kid a goal’,” Gibson said.

“We were well ahead in the game but that wasn’t ever a question for us...and I don’t want this to become about us and any gesture we might have made.

“I just want it to be about the spirit of the game and the fact both teams were able to help make sure Rhys got this opportunity to kick his goal.

“He walked off the ground and said it was the best day of his life and I think that’s all people need to know.”

The heart-warming moment certainly captured the hearts of footy fans.

"(That) gives hope to humanity after all," one fan wrote in response to the image.

"That’s the spirit of our game right there," another wrote, while one social media user labelled the picture his "favourite sporting photo of the year".

Camera Icon Players congratulate a young player after he was handed the chance to score a goal.

Later, players of both clubs ensured the day got better as he received a handball in the goal square and booted a major.

In a heartwarming moment, every player on the field then ran and congratulated the Suns forward.

Northern Beaches Suns president Kylie Thomas said AFL Townsville’s clubs deserved credit for letting everyone take the field.

"They’ve enabled us to allow him to play football," Mrs Thomas said.

"We’re allowed to name his as our 23rd player each week, and then we’ve worked with the clubs from there. Just to allow someone to be able to play footy every week is amazing.

"And then to see what happened yesterday was really, really special. It brings tears to your eyes."

AFL Queensland football operations manager Barry Gibson said the touching moment came just days after the AFL held its national inclusion championships in Tasmania, in which every state and territory fielded teams.

"It certainly puts things into perspective," Gibson said.

"It was amazing to see."