Zac Dawson played in three grand finals in a St Kilda side coached by Ross Lyon.
The Saints, who have won only one premiership in their history in 1966, went down in a thriller to Geelong in 2009 and lost the 2010 grand final replay to Collingwood after an epic draw.
Dawson will play in his fourth decider on Saturday when Fremantle clashes with Hawthorn at the MCG.
“The whole year has been building up to this,” he said.
“I think the boys have dealt with the pressure very well and I think they will do very well handling it all. It's just another week.”
The 27-year-old defender, who began his career at the Hawks in 2004, said he’d be an open forum throughout the week for teammates.
“I'm sure I've got a little bit of advice for them, if they need to talk to anyone, because I've been through a loss, I've been through the lows and I know what it feels like,” Dawson said.
“I understand what people will be going through all week, and if they want to talk, they can, and if not, then they will look after themselves.”
Dawson knows more than most how Lyon handles grand final week.
He said the senior coach doesn’t change at all.
“Everything will stay the same as it was last weekend, as it was the week before,” Dawson said.
“There might be a little bit more excitement, the parade is the only thing that's going to be different for the week, but besides that, it's all the same.”
For Dawson, the elation has already died down.
“I'm less excited now than I was after the Geelong game because I know that everything that has happened counts for nothing,” he said.
“We're there now and everything starts from here.
“It's a hard job getting there, but to win it is even harder.”
Dawson played a tumultuous 14 games at Hawthorn before being delisted in 2006.
He said playing against the Hawks would not carry any extra motivation for him.
“I don't really think about it,” he said.
“It would be nice to win it, but it doesn't matter who it's against it.”
“It might be a little sweeter, I guess.”
Dawson is fully aware of the challenge he and fellow key defender Luke McPharlin face against Lance Franklin and Coleman Medallist Jarryd Roughead on Saturday.
“They are a great combination and they have been playing very well all year,” he said.
“I'm sure I will have one of those two, but it doesn't really worry me who I get.
“We will see how it goes.”
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