St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says dropping youngster Robert Eddy from the team for Saturday's AFL grand final is one of the toughest things he has had to do.

The 21-year-old small forward, elevated from the rookie list last season, had played eight of the club's past 10 matches, including their two previous finals.

But he was dropped for the grand final in favour of defensive midfielder Sean Dempster, in the only selection change made by either side.

"It was a really difficult situation, I had the Max (Hudghton) situation as well, but to call Robert in and tell him is probably one of the toughest things I've done," Lyon said on the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show on Wednesday night.

"But that goes with the job and there's always a really hard luck story.

"He took it really well, carried himself really well, but I'm sure he's sitting at home tonight bitterly disappointed, but the expectation is he carries himself really well and I'm sure he will."

Defensive stalwart Hudghton, the lone survivor from the Saints' most recent grand final appearance in 1997, who is almost certainly in his last season, was the Saints' other heartbreak story.

He has been restricted to just seven games this season by injury and form and has not played since round 20, despite a groundswell of support from fans and former coaches.

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