Former St Kilda champion Robert Harvey has admitted to being surprised by Sean Dempster's addition to the Saints' grand final line-up at the expense of Robert Eddy.
Dempster will be contesting his third AFL grand final after being a member of Sydney's drought-breaking premiership line-up in 2005 and the Swans team that lost to West Coast by one point the following year.
Harvey believes the 25-year-old midfield stopper's experience may have earned him the nod from coach Ross Lyon who, according to Harvey, is as cold and calculating as they come.
"I know Ross and I know how he thinks and I think it would have been purely based on what he thinks for this game coming up against Geelong, that's all it would have come down to," said Harvey.
"He thinks Dempster would be a better option tomorrow than Robbie Eddy which is unfortunate for Robbie being a young bloke, but you see it every year."
"I've spoken to Max Hudghton a few times this week and he's going through everyone's nightmare for a bloke who's put in so much."
"It's hard, but it's the caper we're in."
"A lot of people don't understand why Max Hudghton isn't in but Ross, there's a coldness about that quest to get another flag, and that's the way it is."
Harvey said he had been careful to keep his distance from his former team-mates this season so as not to compromise his role as an assistant under Brett Ratten at Carlton, but revealed that he had sent text messages to most of them over the past few days to wish them well.
Harvey believes the Saints will be 'ready to go' after their hard-fought preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs.
"They've been the best defensive team all year, but whether that holds up tomorrow in the conditions, I don't know," said Harvey.
"The main concern for the Saints is that the Cats are in better form, they've been in better form the last four weeks than (St Kilda), but I think the Saints can win."
"It'll be really close, inside two goals and Lenny Hayes for the (Norm Smith) Medal - they'll be his conditions tomorrow."