St Kilda champion Robert Harvey bowed out of the AFL on Saturday night in sadness after his side was smashed by Hawthorn in the preliminary final at the MCG.

His fellow veteran Shane Crawford might also call time next week but still has the chance of claiming the accolade that has eluded both stars for so long – a premiership medal.

At 34, Crawford will play his first grand final next Saturday, against Geelong, after Hawthorn won 18.10 (118) to 9.10 (64) before a crowd of 77,002.

Crawford is yet to state his intentions on whether he plays on in 2009, but having begun his career after Hawthorn’s great reign of the 1980s, he at least helped establish the club’s new era of success.

Beating Geelong in a grand final is another matter, but the dream remains alive.

That’s no longer the case for Harvey, 37, whose remarkable career spawned the highest number of seasons played – 21 – and countless kilometres run.

But his 1997 Brownlow win came in the same week that the Saints lost that season’s grand final to Adelaide, and that was the closest Harvey ever came to tasting the ultimate success.

St Kilda’s defeat was their third in preliminary finals this decade, and ever since those losses in 2004-05, Harvey’s sole reason for playing on was to win a premiership.

After starring in St Kilda’s win over Collingwood last week, Harvey was one of his side’s better players tonight, but – like so many of his teammates – he could not impart much impact.

When the final siren sounded, Harvey remained as he has been for so much of his career – unflappable – even though he was embraced by his teammates and opponents, including Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson and Crawford.

But he looked emotional as he was chaired off by teammates Max Hudghton and Lenny Hayes, and gave one final wave to the crowd, while the Hawk players formed a guard of honour.

Hudghton, the only other member of the Saints’ 1997 grand final team playing tonight, might also have played his last game, but he is also yet to make his intentions clear beyond 2008.

Hudghton did well tonight to keep Lance Franklin to one goal, a great effort considering Hawthorn’s dominance tonight and that the Hawk superstar entered the match with 110 for the season.

Crawford, meanwhile, is more than just the sentimental story in Hawthorn’s team of young guns.

The onballer had another good match and showed his sublime skill with a goal from a tight angle just before half-time, which effectively ensured his side’s berth in the decider, as they led by 47 points at the time.

Harvey addressed the players and club staff in the rooms and told the group the Saints had a strong future.

He thanked coach Ross Lyon and his teammates for a special final season before he broke down in tears.

His emotional address had several of his teammates and club staff in tears also, before he was then reunited with his family.

Harvey said he had appreciated everything St Kilda had done for him and the fans’ support throughout his career.

But he was clearly disappointed with the Saints’ performance tonight.

“I never expected in my final game that I’d be looking forward to that siren, but that was the case,” he said.

“We’re a better side than that … great credit to the group to bounce back from where we were halfway through the season, but it was unacceptable today.

“There’s work to be done, that won’t be swept under the carpet and I know there will be some hungry boys next year.”

Harvey thanked Hawthorn for their congratulations post-game and wished Crawford well in the grand final.

“He’s a bit junior than me but he’s in a similar situation and I just hope he takes it out next week,” he said.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said he had been an “unabashed admirer” of Harvey’s since he was an opponent and said his preparation for games had made him a great role model.

“There’s only one item short but it doesn’t make him any lesser player,” Lyon said.

Harvey said the sting of this defeat would take some time to get over but he planned to “put the feet up” and maybe take a holiday.

Lyon said there was a strong indication Hudghton would play on in 2009 and Harvey urged his friend to do so.

Harvey said St Kilda’s future was in good hands with the emergence of Clint Jones, Robert Eddy and Sam Gilbert this season.

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
Age: 37
Recruited from: Seaford (Vic)
AFL debut: 1988
Games: 383
Goals: 215
Honours: Brownlow Medal 1997-98, club captain 2001-02, best and fairest 1992, 1994, 1997-98, All-Australian 1992, 1994-99, 2003, AFL MVP 1997, EJ Whitten Medal 1992-93, 1996.

Shane Crawford (Hawthorn) – about to play his first AFL grand final
Age: 34
Recruited from: Assumption College (Vic) via Finley (NSW)
AFL debut: 1993
Games: 304
Goals: 224
Honours: Brownlow Medal 1999, club captain 1999-2004, best and fairest 1998-99, 2002-03, All-Australian 1996, 1998-99, 2002, AFL MVP 1998, Jesaulenko Medal 1998

Most games in VFL/AFL history
426 – Michael Tuck (Haw)
403 – Kevin Bartlett
383 – Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
378 – Simon Madden (Essendon)
375 – Craig Bradley (Carlton)
366 – Bernie Quinlan (Footscray/Fitzroy)

© AAP 2012

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