"They've shown all the fighting characteristics," he told Reuters.
"We've been through a lot as a team this year.
"We haven't had a dream run at all. We've had to work hard for everything that we've got and we've been written off.
"But the guys have stuck to it, they've worked hard for each other.
"If I look at all the characteristics that you want in a really good Crusaders team, I see it in this team, I definitely do."
The Crusaders struggled during the tournament's early stages, and have been without the experienced All Blacks trio of number eight Kieran Read, flanker Richie McCaw and fly-half Dan Carter for large parts of their campaign.
The trio have returned in time to make significant contributions during the tournament's knockout stages and were all part of the last Crusaders team that won the title in 2008 - a 20-12 win over the Waratahs in Christchurch."We've been in this position before with some of these players but I think this year we've also got a lot of good young guys who are hungry and have been doing the yards this year," added Blackadder.
"So I think experience counts on these big occasions but the want and desire's got to be there from everyone."
Israel Folau, the competition's leading try-scorer, was quiet by his standards against the Brumbies but remains a potent attacking threat; a reformed Kurtley Beale is another game breaker though he is troubled by a shoulder injury.
Former Crusaders player and assistant coach Daryl Gibson reckoned the pairing of halfback Nick Phipps and first five-eighth Bernard Foley finally made the Waratahs a complete team and their match-up with Andy Ellis and Colin Slade should also have a bearing the outcome.
The Crusaders' 11-match winning sequence over the Waratahs has been well documented in the build-up but McCaw doubted the streak's relevance, likewise the Kiwis' greater experience of finals football.
McCaw (injury), Read (concussion) and Carter (sabbatical) have all had limited involvement this season but crucially they have all been key contributors as the Crusaders found their customary momentum to qualify for their 11th final.
Of course while that trio offer an intimidating presence, the remainder of the Crusaders pack must also aim up in unison at the set piece where the Waratahs have been fragile since lineout caller Dave Dennis succumbed to a knee injury.
"The Waratahs have certainly set the standard this year, the way they've played.
"Last weekend showed defence wins you big matches but if you can put them under pressure there's no reason why we can't be successful."
Meanwhile, Blackadder's counterpart Michael Cheika attempted to temper the expectations on his players by arguing the group was still "a work in progress".
"There's no way I'm saying yeah it's great to be in the grand final but we're still laying the foundations to put some real substance here at the Waratahs for the short term and also for the longer term," he said, insisting victory today was not the be-all and end-all.
"The benefits for me will be later. If I can sit in the grandstand in 10 years' time and watch a team playing the way with the same competitive spirit I can say I was a part of building that.
"That's more the rewards that I'm looking for."
Blackadder, conversely, cannot afford to sit back and relax any time soon.
