IT’S been a big week off the field for us, but it hasn't been as distracting as it was last week.

On Thursday, it was big when the news story about Alan Didak broke, but once the boys got their head around it, it didn't affect the performance of the team on the weekend.

The players are still rallying around Alan, like good teams do.

Alan was under a lot of pressure last week, and that probably transferred to the team as well, so the boys did quite well to play as well as they did.

The boys played patches of good football last weekend, and I think in the end our discipline let us down at times and cost us the game.

The positives continued in the form of the kids, who have been good all year. As long as they continue it and the senior players play well also – and we kick a bit straighter – we're a good chance to improve on things.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like any of our injured players will be coming back in this week. Harry O'Brien isn't far away, Simon Prestigiacomo isn't too far away, Jimmy Clement is maybe one or two weeks, Bucks is still a few weeks away as is Rhyce Shaw.

Chris Egan is also still a few weeks away. Youngster Chris Dawes hasn't played a senior game yet but will miss a few more weeks.

Sean Rusling is another one to look forward to. He's done a lot of training now, so he's probably only three or four weeks from playing.

Ryan Lonie has been playing in the twos after his battle with osteitis pubis. He's trying to get a bit of match fitness into his body now. Hopefully he can just step up and play a full game and really play well.

I had osteitis back in 1998 when it was the new kid on the block as far as injuries were concerned. I know what it's like, and I pretty much had to manage it my whole career.

I know what players are going through – I had a groin operation on both sides when I left the Brisbane Lions, and it can be very restrictive. It affects how fast you can run, and the power you can kick the ball with and how you change direction.

It's not like a broken arm where you can see the injury. It's really hidden away, and it really affects your ability to play. It's very frustrating.

There's no doubt there would be lots of players playing with it at the moment, and they're still trying to find ways to get around it.

We've got a big task to focus on this week with St Kilda at the MCG. I'm not exactly sure how we've gone over the last couple of years against them, but hopefully this year we can have a win.

Their real dangers are obvious – they've got talent through the midfield and they have some big forwards as well, so we have to try to nullify those areas.

We're without Anthony Rocca and they're without Max Hudghton, but you can't really say that evens it out. It will come down to how well we play, and how they play together and if they do the things they do well.

They need to win badly, but so do we. We're only one game inside the eight. It's a pretty close year this year, so "needing to win" isn't one phrase that can be looked into too much.