I want to get native host element of the mat-checkbox so I can do itemCheckbox.click(). Now, itemCheckbox is a MatCheckbox. Can I get reference to the native element directly in the template?
  <mat-checkbox
                #itemCheckbox
                (click)="$event.stopPropagation()"
                (change)="$event ? selection.toggle(row) : null"
                [checked]="selection.isSelected(row)">
  </mat-checkbox>
ideally I would imagine something like this
<our-component #item="ElementRef"></our-component> 
PS. this is generic question. I know I can itemCheckbox.toggle() but the point is to get native element reference of the component in general. Also, I know I can @ViewChild given component and get native element from there, but that is not  the point.
 
    