Port Adelaide marquee recruit Charlie Dixon is set to present the Saints with an arduous assignment on Sunday afternoon, but he’s just one part of a difficult defensive test for St Kilda according to Senior Coach Alan Richardson.

The powerhouse forward arrived at Alberton during last October’s trade period on a lucrative five-year deal and has generated plenty of interest in football obsessed South Australia since joining the Power.

And whilst plenty of eyes will be fixed on the 202cm monster, Richardson says his side must focus on harassing Port Adelaide's ball carriers to ensure the Power aren’t providing their forwards with silver service.

“He’s been a good player up at Gold Coast. He comes into a pretty strong forward group, when you consider [Jay] Schulz is a good player, [Justin] Westhoff’s a good player, Robbie Gray, [Chad] Wingard – our backs are going to have their hands full,” Richardson told reporters at Melbourne airport on Sunday.

“We know that it’s going to come from pressure in the midfield; if we don’t get pressure on and they get quality ball use it’s going to be a challenge for our backs. So that is our focus.”

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Following revelations in recent days that Collingwood is one of several clubs to have recorded illicit drug use during last year’s off-season period, Richardson opined the issue was not only an industry problem, but one that affects the whole of society.

“I think it’s an industry problem; I think it’s a society problem; I think we’re talking about young men and women that fit into that demographic,” he said.

“The industry’s not immune. It’s not just a Collingwood issue it’s a competition issue.”

The AFL’s confidentiality policy prevents coaches from being informed of who has tested positive in the first instance, and it’s something Richardson says is frustrating from a duty of care perspective.

“I will say though it’s frustrating from a coach’s point of view that we don’t have the opportunity to have more influence. That’s certainly the consensus of the coaching fraternity.

“We certainly care for our players; we think we can have a real influence. It’s frustrating at times when you get thrown a number and not a name, so there’s not much you can do with that.”

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