Ross Lyon is standing by out-of-form St Kilda forward Fraser Gehrig, declaring that there's no way Gehrig will ever be dropped as long as Lyon is the senior coach.

The 'G-Train' was held to three kicks for two goals in Sydney on Saturday night, both in the first quarter, coming off a disposal-free nightmare against the Western Bulldogs in Round 18.

But Lyon has revealed that the 31-year-old, who battled on despite a broken hand and nasty bout of the flu earlier in the season, has been playing under duress more recently with a serious foot tendon injury.

"He had a plantar fascia that he carried which was really brave, that's torn right through," Lyon said.

"He's had one before which was really public but … this one we kept pretty quiet, but he worked his way through it."

Lyon said Gehrig was frustrated by being double or even triple-teamed, but was still hungry and still capable of getting the job done.

"Against Carlton he kicked six and against Hawthorn he was really good and against Collingwood he was really good but the last two weeks he's kicked two and zero," said Lyon.

"Has his mental state changed? I'm not sure. Has the delivery to him changed? Probably.

"Up until the last two weeks I don't think anyone would have questioned his form or his attitude.

"Fraser will never be dropped while I'm coach."

Pressed to elaborate on his team's more general goal-scoring issues - St Kilda is the lowest-scoring club in the league - Lyon said he preferred to focus on figures since the mid-season break which have the Saints ranked eighth overall in 'points-for' averaging 14 goals per game.

The key to the team's improvement had been better service from the midfield which is where Saturday's clash with Fremantle at Telstra Dome, he said, will be won and lost.

"Are we happy with eighth? No, we'd like to improve and move up," Lyon said.

"Clearly against Sydney not too many teams kick 15 or 16 goals against them but in saying that, we had simple opportunities in front of goal that we didn’t take.

"Our last quarters are our big worry - we've lost a number of them. Is that tightening up, is that a fitness issue, is that the opposition? It’s probably a combination of all three.

"We want more goals and we think we're capable of it but it's a bit about midfield dominance - when your midfield is on top you're scoring and when it's not, you know."

Lyon stressed that the Saints can’t afford to make any mistakes against the Dockers in what amounts to a mini-final.

He's very well aware that the club needs to win all three of its remaining matches - against Freo, West Coast and Richmond - to make the finals and he said it's important to go into September with a purpose.

"If you were to win three in a row you go in full of confidence and good personnel and a chance to do something," he said.

"But of you just limp in, is there much point in that? I'm not sure there is."