IT’S BEEN an unusual experience spending time on the sidelines.

I've never played fewer than 20 matches in a season, which was in my first year in 2000.

But I've now missed four games this year, including the past two with a knee injury. I was also out with a hamstring injury in rounds five and six.

This recent injury occurred against Essendon during Neale Daniher's final game as coach for the club. It happened early in the last quarter when I bent down to pick up the ball and Essendon's Andrew Welsh bumped me.

My momentum was going forward, although once he hip-and-shouldered me my legs got caught up in the hit and I landed awkwardly.

I then got up and limped around. I thought I was okay and I would be able to shake it off, but once I tried to turn sideways I knew something wasn't right.

I went off the ground and after being examined by the doctor I was told it was a similar injury to a medial strain "Neita" had earlier in the year.

I went into the change rooms and had an injection to numb the pain. I was then taped up and went out and played the rest of the match. But the next day, there was certainly some pain for a few days until it started healing itself.

Rehab has since followed. I haven't really had to go through a rehabilitation program since I've been at the club. I've always played, so it's been interesting watching the boys from the grandstands.

I've had physio every day – sometimes twice a day – since the injury occurred. I need to strengthen up the right quadriceps muscle, so I've been busy working hard to get back onto the ground. My running has stepped up and I'm hopeful of playing this week – if not in round 17.

We've now had two matches since "Bomber" Riley took over as coach from Neale.

"Bomber" has been at the club since 2003, so we've known him for a long time and how he operates. He's being his own coach and doing a few things differently. He wants the boys to take risks and show their wares.

He's been fantastic already. "Bomber" is a real people person and the boys love him and everyone around the place loves him. He's a great communicator and great with his words and he's been fantastic for the joint.

"Bomber" is the type of guy that will crack a gag in a team meeting, yet he always keeps the boys interested all of time in those situations as well – and that's a great skill to have.

If you're in a meeting for an hour or an hour-and-a-half, you want to keep the guys listening to you and not doze off. "Bomber" keeps the boys right on their toes. He really is A-1 in communication.

On the issue of the future coach, the club has got some tough decisions to make over the next month or two, so it's a bit daunting, but it's exciting as well.