Whitehead, who had played all 19 matches for the Saints this season before last Saturday’s preliminary final, was all but guaranteed a spot in the team until a virus struck him down.

Coach Adam Dowie said Whitehead was hospitalised last weekend after taking ill following Thursday night’s training session.

“He was here at training tonight but he has lost about six kilograms from some sort of virus,” Dowie said.

“He’s played 19 games and missed the two most important ones. He definitely can’t take a trick.”

Dowie said Whitehead had been in and out of hospital this week, ending his chances of a maiden grand final appearance, having missed selection last year when the Saints were defeated by Warrnambool.

“He’s probably been one of the young guys who have stood up this year and played some really good footy and taken confidence from that. He’s been working so hard. He was pretty upbeat tonight.”

Dowie had earmarked Whitehead for a role on the wing tomorrow, instead of across half-back.

The good news for Saints supporters is that veteran Chris McLaren was named in the squad.

McLaren, who suffered a quad injury in the qualifying final, is a key inclusion.

“Chris is definitely going to play unless he wakes up tomorrow and it’s really sore or he hurts it in the warm-up,” Dowie said.

McLaren was the only inclusion to the side that defeated North Warrnambool Eagles by 25 points in last Saturday’s preliminary final.

The Saints have not yet decided who makes way for McLaren, naming a four-man interchange bench that will need to be trimmed tomorrow morning.

The Saints trained for about 70 minutes in front of a good crowd at Victoria Park.

“The boys trained really well, it was really sharp. There were a lot of people here. There seemed to be a lot more than last year. The town is a bit more decked out. There were streamers on the gates on the way in and posters. It was a really good vibe.”

Warrnambool made one change to the side that scored a 12-goal win against the Saints in the second semi-final. 

Midfielder Darcy Graham, who missed the match because of a hamstring injury sustained at training, returns with fellow midfielder Jackson Bell unable to be considered because of a fractured collarbone.

Blues coach Scott Carter said Bell, who had not missed a game because of injury since he made his debut three seasons ago, was in the thoughts of his teammates.

Bell was again at training last night and will sit on the bench in a communications role between Carter and the players tomorrow.

“The boys are not taking anything for granted. They only have to look at Jackson to understand that,” Carter said. “We haven’t used him as inspiration but you can’t take footy or sport for granted, because you don’t know what’s around the corner.

“He had a smile on his face at training tonight and it’s a credit to him the way he’s conducted himself.”

Carter said his players moved well during a 45-minute session at Reid Oval, the venue for tomorrow’s clash.

“The boys are well prepared, there’s no excuses,” he said.

“They are pretty fresh.”

Carter said the Blues had enjoyed a light finals campaign, having had two weeks off in the past three.

“If I was offered it at the start of the year, finish on top and then go straight into a grand final, I would have taken it.

“We are not carrying any lingering injuries. 

We have had a good preparation, done it the most efficient, simple way to get there.”