FORMER Port Adelaide star Stuart Dew said winning the premiership this weekend would be a perfect finish to a year which saw him abandon his retirement plans in favour of a career revival with the Hawks.

The 29-year-old spent 12 months out of action before being drafted by the club, in a recruitment move that was scutinised by many. However the premiership medallist with the Power insists he is not one for listening to criticism from outside the club.

“I try not to gauge myself on outsiders’ points of view,” Dew said.

“I just listen to coaches and those close to me. It (my move to Hawks) has gone to plan so far and if we win, it certainly will have. So hopefully we can win the game and get the result we want.”

Dew admitted that during his retirement year he could never have contemplated that 12 months later he would be, not only playing AFL, but in the hunt for his second premiership.

“I certainly didn’t think I’d be in this position. It would mean the world to me (to win).”

Being the only current owner of a premiership medallion on the playing list, Dew will have the honour of using his experience of playing in and winning a grand final, to address the player group on Friday afternoon. Dew admitted that he is honoured to be given the opportunity.

“As a player, all you can ask is to have the respect of your teammates which is first and foremost so I’m proud of that fact and hopefully I’ll do the job well.

“It’s everyone’s dream to play in a grand final so I’ll be telling them that you’ve just got to really stop yourself thinking about it too much and keep everything as normal as possible.

“At our meeting this afternoon we’ll just be really clear about what we want to do and keep it simple.”