FOR Carol Ladson, she is doing her best to keep her mind off this Saturday’s AFL grand final between Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG.But it hasn’t been easy, with the Ladson’s phone at their Bendigo home running off the hook this week, and well-wishers constantly stopping Carol to talk about the big game in which her son, Rick, will be playing in.Rick Ladson will line up for the Hawks against the Cats on Saturday in the grand final in what will be his 99th AFL game.Among the sell-out crowd at the MCG will be Rick’s parents, Carol and Barry, older sisters Karli and Bekki, brothers-in-law Rhys and Wes, and three-year-old nephew Bailey, who will all be cheering on the former St Kilian’s-St Peter’s under-12’s player, while five-month-old niece Jaida will be barracking for her uncle from home.“We are trying not to get too excited or think about it too much at the moment,’’ Carol said yesterday.“But it has been a bit hard because we’ve had lots of phone calls this week.’’ Carol spoke to Rick on Tuesday afternoon and said her son was feeling relaxed ahead of the biggest game of his career.“He’s travelling fine, not giving too much away, but staying on top of it all,’’ Carol said.Ladson, 24, was recruited to the Hawks from the Bendigo Pioneers with selection 16 in the 2001 national draft, having been a stand-out junior player in Bendigo.“Rick always had that ability, but it’s a big ask to get to the AFL,’’ Carol said.“He was determined and we backed him all the way with what his decisions were.“It was a hard haul at times, but he has made the most of his opportunity, and that’s all that matters.’’ Ladson made his AFL debut against Carlton in an 11-point win at Princes Park in round six, 2003, and through his time at Hawthorn, Carol says the Hawks have lived up to their slogan as “the family club’’.“Hawthorn involves the parents as much as they can with the boys,’’ Carol said.“After every game we get a pass down to the rooms and we are all made very welcome down there.“It’s a very close-knit club and they have looked after Rick very well, as well as looking after us.’’ Rick is one of only five Hawks to have played all 24 matches this season, and has averaged 19 possessions per game. While Carol and Barry Ladson are preparing for their first AFL grand final as the parents of a player, it’s a familiar situation for fellow Bendigonians Bryce and Maree Selwood.Bryce and Maree’s son, Joel, will play for Geelong as the Cats pursue back-to-back flags for the first time since 1951-52.It’s the fourth consecutive year one of the four Selwood brothers has played in an AFL grand final.In 2005 and 2006 it was Adam, who played for the West Coast Eagles in their two epic grand finals against the Sydney Swans, winning one and losing one.Last year, Bryce and Maree, as well as sons Adam, Troy and Scott, were in the crowd at the MCG to watch Joel, in just his 21st AFL game, play in the Cats’ record-breaking 119-point grand final win against Port Adelaide.But despite this Saturday being the fourth straight grand final where one of his sons has been involved, Bryce says it doesn’t help calm the nerves in the days leading up to the game.“I think it’s going to be a very exciting game this weekend,’’ said Bryce, who hasn’t spoken to Joel this week.“I was quietly confident last year after Geelong got past Collingwood in the preliminary final, but I don’t know about this week because Hawthorn is playing very well at the moment.’’ Joel, who was last year’s Rising Star winner, has continued this season to build a reputation that belies his age and experience.Not yet 21 and still having played less than 50 games, Joel, who like Ladson has come through the Bendigo Pioneers, has been one of the driving forces through the midfield this year in the powerful Geelong side that has won 23 of its 24 games.On Monday night he polled 19 votes in the Brownlow Medal to finish just five away from the winner, Adam Cooney from the Western Bulldogs.“We’re just hoping on Saturday night we have something to be excited about again,’’ Bryce said.“We have been involved when West Coast lost (by four points in 2005) and I can tell you, it’s not very exciting.’’