Obviously I’d have preferred to have been out on the ground against the Swans, but with myself, Darren Milburn, Paul Chapman and David Wojcinski all missing with injury we were able to sit together and watch last week’s win.

The boys were terrific last Saturday night, and it was great being able to cram into the coaches’ box – for the first half at least – and listen to Bomber and all the other coaches during the game.

It got a little cramped in there with so many of us so Dasher and I moved to a box next door after half-time.

Sitting alongside the coaches, you certainly get an idea of what they expect of the players during a game.

I went to Sydney expecting to play but, after not being able to fully train on the Friday night because of my back, decided it was best not to risk it.

It didn’t matter in the end anyway. I was set to play on Barry Hall but by sitting out it meant a younger bloke, like Harry Taylor, was able to get great experience playing on one of the game’s best forwards.

I know from speaking to Harry after the game, he was pretty impressed with how good Barry is. But the experience “H” got will be invaluable, and he’ll have learned a hell of a lot for future battles.

He actually did okay the other night, it was just that Barry was on fire and, as any backman will tell you, there’s not much you can do when some forwards are “on”.

I’m pleased to say I should be back on deck this weekend against North Melbourne.

It should be a great game down at Skilled Stadium on Sunday. I know the guys are looking forward to it, and finishing off the home-and-away season with two games down there.

I think I’m certainly going to play, while we might get one or two of the other guys back as well, so we should have our best side for a while.

We’ll need to play some of our best footy because, along with ourselves, the Roos are the form team of the competition.

I think North Melbourne has improved a lot from 12 months ago. Obviously they copped a couple of beltings in the finals last year but everyone knows that isn’t the true North Melbourne.

While the Kangaroos have improved this year, there’s no doubt that we have too.

We’re playing better footy than we were last year and are a lot more confident in each other than we’ve ever been. Now we’ve just got to keep winning.

The whole group has got better, while individually I think most of us have also become slightly better players.

I know I’ve noticed a big improvement in Andrew Mackie. He’s gone from being a good player last year to a really good player this year.

He’s become a vital part of our team, providing attacking run off half back, while some of the defensive work he’s done this year on often bigger opponents has been sensational.

I remember he got picked pretty early in the draft a few years back a few people asked questions and maybe raised their eyebrows, but he’s always been a beautiful kick and a fantastic runner and athlete. He just had to get a bit of confidence, put on some size and strength and get some games under his belt.

Now, everyone at the club is seeing what a good player Andrew Mackie is – not that anyone ever doubted him. He’s just another one that our recruitment manager Stephen Wells can take credit for.