ActionScript 3.0 :: Declaring Variables With A For Loop?

I want to declare 8 variables at the class level like this:

Code:

private var graphicDesign1:Sprite;
private var graphicDesign2:Sprite;
private var graphicDesign3:Sprite;
private var graphicDesign4:Sprite;

[code]....

But I would like to do it with a for loop. Is that possible? If so i'm doing it wrong this is what I have.

Code:

for(var i = 1; i < 9; i++){
private var +"graphicDesign"+i:Sprite;
}