[TYPO3-mvc] Fluid - is there a way to check if an object is the first or last object?

[Stephen Bungert]

I want to add the classes "first" or "last" to a tag in my template, how 
can I check if the current object in a for tag/loop is the last or first?

I thought about doing something like this:

public function listAction() {
	$objects	= $this->itemRepository->findAll();
	$numOfObjects	= count($objects);

	foreach($objects as $key => &$value) {
		$value->numOfObjects = $numOfObjects;

		if ($key == 0) {
			$value->position = 'first ';
			
		} else if ($key == $numOfObjects - 1) {
			$value->position = 'last ';
			
		} else {
			$value->position = '';
		}
	}
	
	$this->view->assign('items', $objects);
}

This works, the new properties are added and in my fluid template I just 
have to add {item.position}, or so I thought:

<f:for each="{items}" as="item">
	<f:debug>{item}</f:debug>
	<f:cycle values="{0: 'odd', 1: 'even'}" as="oddEven">
		<li class="item{item.uid} {item.position}{oddEven}{item.classes}">
	</f:cycle>

In the debug I see my properties, but {item.position} is always rendered 
empty, I guess because the value has to be in _cleanProperties?

Does anyone know how I can do what I want or have any suggestions?