Jarrad Waite has vowed to his Carlton teammates that he will never again be suspended for an undisciplined action.

The star forward is eligible to return this week after serving a one-match suspension for headbutting in his first game of the season against Melbourne in round six.

Waite missed Carlton's clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Monday night, which the Blues lost by nine points after desperately lacking a viable forward target for three quarters.

The 30-year-old, who reportedly copped a spray from coach Mick Malthouse in the rooms after the game, believes he owes the Blues and is determined to repay them.

Joint vice-captain Kade Simpson revealed the club's leadership group, of which Waite is a member, had addressed the issue directly with the key forward.

"We had a chat with Jarrad. He knows he's done the wrong thing," he told reporters on at Visy Park on Tuesday morning.

"When he comes back this week, he's got a chance to make up for it, and I know he's really wanting to do that. He knows he let the team down.

"He addressed the group and apologised and said it won’t happen again. So we've got to take Jarrad at his word, and hopefully this week he can come out and repay the boys."

The Blues desperately missed Waite's presence against the Saints, with big men Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson tried in attack before Lachie Henderson was swung forward and slotted three last-quarter goals.

"(Waite is) an integral part of our team," Simpson said.

"Our ball delivery to our forwards wasn't great. But having Jarrad, everyone knows he's a great player, so he's obviously going to help every time he's out there."

Quizzed about the alleged Malthouse bake, Simpson said: "I honestly couldn’t tell you. I didn’t hear it or didn’t see it, so I'm not sure."

The return of Waite, and the likely inclusion of key playmakers Andrew Carrazzo (calf) and Bryce Gibbs (hamstring) will lift the Blues' stocks for Sunday's home clash with Port Adelaide, given they could lose David Ellard (left leg), Chris Yarran (hamstring) and Michael Jamison (shoulder).

Ellard and Yarran left the field in the first quarter and did not return to the field, while Jamison was also hurt early but courageously played out the game.

Skipper Marc Murphy (lower leg) also limped through most of the match.

Adding to the Blues' woes, Eddie Betts could be cited by the Match Review Panel for a bump on Nathan Wright, who was helped from the field with a suspected broken jaw.

Simpson dismissed a suggestion that, given the casualties, the Blues' review of the match wouldn't be as harsh as it might otherwise have been. It would be assessed honestly, he insisted. And there would be particular focus on their poor first half.

However, Simpson admitted the Blues had been impacted by the injuries and subsequent lack of rotations.

"You probably play an extra 10 per cent game time, which doesn’t sound like much, but it does take its toll, especially with rotations being a big part of the game these days," he said.

Given the Blues have just a six-day break between games, Simpson said they would likely have a light week.

He also heaped praise on veteran Heath Scotland, who will play his 250th game on Sunday.

"It's an incredible effort to come from another club … he's one of the hardest trainers I've ever seen … he's playing some great footy and I'm sure he could go another couple of years if he really wants to," he said.