McKenry will watch the Saints’ quest for a fifth straight Hampden league flag from the Reid Oval sidelines after he was overlooked at the selection table.

He played every game bar the preliminary final win over Port Fairy last week when he missed due to a minor knee complaint.

McLaren said McKenry was in the selection frame but Koroit opted to make just one change to face Camperdown, bringing in midfielder Taylor Mulraney (shoulder) for the unlucky Jayden Whitehead.

“Taylor McKenry is really unlucky. He’s only missed one game all year and that was last week through injury,” he said.

“He trained really strongly tonight but I couldn’t get someone out to get him in.

“It was gut-wrenching for me. If the coach feels bad, the player probably feels 10 times worse. He copped an injury at the wrong time of year. To his credit, he was terrific about it (the selection news).”

Mulraney, who has also battled an eye complaint this season, comes back in after missing Koroit’s two finals with an AC joint issue.

“We haven’t brought in a back up or a role player – he is arguably in our best five players,” McLaren said.

“He’s an interleague player and plays well in finals. We’re rapt to have him back in.”

Camperdown has named a four-man bench, opting to give utility Billy Arnold time to prove his fitness.

Arnold missed the Magpies’ second semi-final against Koroit with a quad strain.

“Billy trained well. We’ll see how he pulls up and make a final decision after,” Magpies coach Phil Carse said.

Carse said Camperdown had its own selection heartache.

“We have had guys who have made a huge contribution to the team like Josh Bone and Isaac Stephens and unfortunately they’ve been injured at the wrong time of year,” he said.

“They just missed out and Ben Reid, Charlie Brett and Grant Place all got us to where we are going.”

Carse said the Magpies had been a settled side the past four to five weeks and would be “pretty much at full strength”.

He said the Pies, who are hoping to secure their first flag since 2000, had enjoyed the grand final build-up.

“We have tried to embrace it,” he said. “We’ve had a huge amount of support – the town hasn’t seen success for the past 18 years – and we’re carrying their spirit with us.”