SEAN Dempster is not considered one of the more decorated players in the AFL, but when it comes to this time of year, few are more qualified to speak about playing on the big stage than the St Kilda defender.

With five Grand Finals to his name, Dempster has reached footy's grandest occasion more than anyone else in the AFL at the moment, a record he shares with teammate Adam Schneider.

Schneider and Dempster were both part of the Sydney Swans' premiership team of 2005 and the unsuccessful defence the following year.

The pair was traded to St Kilda at the end of 2007 where they took part in the narrow 2009 loss to Geelong and last year's draw and replay against Collingwood.

Dempster knows that he has been fortunate in his low-profile 118-game career.

"I've definitely been very lucky and very grateful for the club showing faith in me throughout the year. They've given me another opportunity to play finals football which is what we're all here for," Dempster said.

This season has been the best of Dempster's career, playing all 22 games while being used in a variety of roles both as a tagger and as a rebounding defender.

He says getting his body free of injury had been the key.

"I think it's been good for me to string a few games together this season, where in the past it's kind of been a bit sporadic through injury. To string a few together and to get a job week in, week out has been very helpful for my game and for the team," he said.

Dempster's run of September fortune contrasts sharply with St Kilda assistant coach Robert Harvey, who played 383 matches in an illustrious career with the Saints for just one Grand Final in 1997.

Harvey says Dempster has come into his own this season.

"Obviously Sean's had a good year, but consistency-wise I think for a few years now he's been really solid and I think Ross had a relationship with him at Sydney and he's been able to do those roles pretty consistently all year," Harvey said.

"We've put him to some really big names this year and he's done the job for us."

St Kilda takes on Dempster's former team in an Elimination Final this week and while the 27-year-old says playing his former team adds little to his desire to win, he admits he felt like he needed to make a statement to the Swans the first few times he played against them.

"I think I did when I first came to the Saints in the first couple of years - when I'd play them I really wanted to play well and maybe prove a point a little bit," he said.

"Now it's been four years and I do still have mates there who I talk to. It's just another game and now it's come to finals it means a little bit less to play them as a team more than anything."

Luke Holmesby covers St Kilda news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby