NO HOLDING back. 

Speaking to the media this morning, assistant coach Ash Hansen was firm on the Blues responding after a forgettable performance last week. 

Hansen stepped in for AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss, who was unavailable on Friday due to a family matter.

Referencing Carlton's start to the game last weekend, Hansen said the team would be on alert to not be caught out by any team come the first bounce. 

“We speak a lot about process and we want to be really transparent with the guys around being honest and being consistent in that space,” Hansen said.

“I think last week reflected that if you’re a little bit off against a really good team on their home deck, you can get jumped: that first quarter certainly wasn’t what we want to stand for and we’re looking forward to a good reply.” 

Whilst having the last two Coleman Medallists standing inside forward 50 is a boost for any team, external criticism about the Blues this week has centred around an over-reliance on Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow last weekend.

The offensive line coach acknowledged that while targeting the key forwards can be an easy resort, the Blues had a focus on being unpredictable when heading into attack.

“[McKay and Curnow] are a really strong presence, they've shown that they’re capable of taking a mark and they position themselves really consistently, so I don’t blame those guys for knocking it into them,” he said.

“We want to show a multi-dimensional game, have multiple goalkickers on the board – that’s the profile of good teams. We’re certainly looking to be that and be influential in different ways.” 

St Kilda has shut out a number of teams over the competition this year on its way to being ladder leaders after Round 5, losing its first game just last week at the hands of Collingwood.

A star for the Saints has been Callum Wilkie, who Hansen noted the Blues will have to be mindful of when it comes to quelling the 196cm intercept defender.

“I think his ability to read the play and his positioning has been really consistent,” he said. 

“Because they’re putting great pressure on the ball, it’s giving him really good looks in the air, it’s giving him the chance to intercept: he’s having a tremendous year and he’s become a really good player off the rookie list. 

“Every intercept defender takes up our time. We certainly look at the way they influence the game … their ability to counter attack off that, it’s really powerful when your defence is displaced – taking away that will be important.”