RICK Ladson is unlikely to capture many headlines in the wash-up from one of the most hyped AFL grand finals in recent history.He is neither undeserving nor incapable, rather less in vogue than messrs Lance Franklin, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell and worthy Geelong adversaries Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett and Joel Corey.But should captain Mitchell stand alongside coach Alistair Clarkson holding the 2008 AFL premiership cup aloft this Saturday, Ladson can take solace from the fact he has contributed as much as any to the ultimate glory.The half-back flanker from Bendigo is one of only five Hawks to have played every game this season.He is the oldest and most experienced of the quintet.The grand final will mark game 99 and he is the only player over 22 to have played each game this year.And perhaps most importantly, he has experienced the lows of AFL, which, now appear seemingly light years away from a Hawthorn side blessed with young talent and on the rise.“It’s amazing. This is what you play for and I’m looking forward to the week ahead,’’ Ladson said.“You’ve got to try and stick to what you’ve done for the whole year, obviously there are a few things that will pop up this week, like the (grand final) parade and things like that, but you’ve just got to enjoy it and roll with it.“Obviously grand final day is a massive day and if you don’t come to play you know you’re going to lose by a lot.“So we’re looking forward to the challenge, Geelong is a great side and we’re looking forward to hitting them with everything we’ve got.’’Ladson’s most recent grand final was in 2001, when the Bendigo Pioneers were beaten by the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup under-18s clash.The Golden Square on-baller was not without star company in that match either, named rover beside ruck-rover Nick Dal Santo in a side that included Selwood twins Adam and Troy.Later that year all four were drafted.Adam has since played in a premiership, Dal Santo’s bid for a grand final berth was quashed by Ladson’s Hawks on Saturday night.Ladson is far from disappointed about the relatively fruitless beginning to his AFL career. It is in fact this shared suffering with team-mates who endured the lean years that would make a premiership all the more rewarding.No team-mate has endured the highs and lows quite like Shane Crawford.Should Hawthorn vanquish the rampant Geelong, he will become the first player in history to have lasted so long without a premiership.“The best thing for us is that we’ve got another week and a chance at a flag for Shane, who has given so much to this football club and to a lot of us young guys, personally,’’ Ladson said.“On a one-on-one basis over the years, he’s helped so much.“We’re all great mates, especially that group that have come in together and then ‘Clarko’ has come along and built us into quite a strong team now. “It’s great to go out there every week with your mates and now we’re one win away,’’ Ladson said of achieving every player’s dream.