Todd Goldstein eyes five more
He's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, but Todd Goldstein isn't planning one going anywhere.
10:42am Apr 19, 2019
Rediscovering the Will
Todd Goldstein's new-formed relationship with Will Minson that's been a major factor in his good form.
12:54pm Aug 31, 2018
Friends can be foes
Missed opportunity
A milestone to remember
Goldy's journey to 200
Goldstein 200: A timeline
WIN: A Melbourne Airport Parking prize pack
Goldstein belief unshaken
Goldstein wants to stay
Goldstein post-match (Rd 5, 2019)
Frantic touch turns to Goldy (Rd 1, 2019)
6:07pm Mar 24, 2019
Goldstein interview (March 5, 2019)
12:21pm Mar 5, 2019
Goldstein post-match (Rd 13, 2019)
12:00am Jan 2, 2019
Players return to training (November 19, 2018)
Goldstein - In Review
Goldstein
Junior club: Trinity Grammar
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Debut: Round 15, 2008 v Port Adelaide
- Tap work
- Arden St Supporters Group
A late starter to football, Todd Goldstein spent most of his teenage years focused on basketball.
Registering for Oakleigh Chargers in 2006 just days before the deadline, Goldstein ended up being a key component of the side's run through the finals and eventually to a premiership.
In hot demand after his cameo for the Chargers, North Melbourne was the side which secured Goldstein's future, selecting him with its third pick in the 2006 National Draft.
Season 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
Following two relatively quiet seasons, many wondered if Todd Goldstein could get back to his best, however the ruckman took little time proving that he could.
Goldstein played all 22 games and ranked fifth in total hit-outs, averaging an impressive 35.6 per game.
The 30-year-old's best performance came in Round 17 against the Swans, when he recorded 52 hit-outs and collected 18 disposals.
By his lofty standards, 2017 was somewhat disappointing for Todd Goldstein, with the big-man spending a two-week spell in the VFL with Werribee towards the end of the year.
The 2015 All-Australian ruckman had increased competition for his position in the form of debutant Braydon Preuss, as well as Majak Daw, and this sharing of ruck duties had an impact on his output, averaging 14 less hit outs than two seasons ago.
Goldstein still provided glimpses of his old form, with a dominant performance in the round 9 victory against Melbourne being a highlight
Transition Coach, Josh Drummond
"He started really well, and hit the scoreboard a bit more than he has in the past.
"It was another string to his bow.
"He came into the year with a bit of a target on his back based on his year last year and the All-Australian selection and he handled that well.
"Then he had the injury about halfway through the year, and at times he was able to play close to his best, but there were chunks where he struggled to have the influence around the ground.
"His season probably mirrored ours to an extent, so we're looking to him for a big bounce back year next year."
Mid-season, from Leigh Tudor
"I think he would be (in career-best form); he's just been amazing. Last week against the Giants, the hit-outs to advantage and the record hits were fantastic.
"He's in the top three for defensive acts in the club and he's a ruckman – that's an outstanding performance.
"He's communicating at stoppages, he's very direct and he's starting to put it on the other midfielders when things are going well and when they're not going well about what he wants to do with set-ups."
Second half of 2015, from Darren Crocker
"The recognition for Goldy came with the All-Australian nod. Sometimes you get noticed for the first couple of years and then picked later on.
"That's what's happened here, he's been up and about for a few years now.
"With his advantage most weeks in the ruck, sometimes you have to plan for the opposition trying to shark his taps instead of looking at their own ruckman.
"With Goldy's dominance, quite often a lot of the planning at ground level is stopping the other midfielders from reading him."
For the fifth consecutive season, Todd Goldstein played more than 20 games for North Melbourne, demonstrating his impressive durability.
After having Daniel Currie as a second ruckman for periods at the start of the year, Goldstein worked his way into good form through the middle of the season, increasing his hit-out and disposal numbers.
Perhaps the best game of his season was in the semi-final against Geelong. The majority of the lead-up was about how Mark Blicavs could 'run Goldstein off his feet'.
But the opposite proved true. Goldstein took part in more ruck contests than anyone else on the ground and notched a season high 54 hit-outs.
Goldstein was also afforded more periods of rest during the season. In 2013, he played 95 per cent game time or more on 12 occasions. The number dipped to three in 2014, allowing him to run out matches stronger.
Mid-season, from Alex Ishchenko
"We've really been working on his ground play and his marking but his ruckwork has been second to none. People have been talking up Will Minson as the standout ruckman of the competition, but Goldy is right up there with him.
"Having Majak in the side is enabling Goldy to change his game and make himself more dangerous. Most teams are now playing two ruckmen or sometimes even three like St Kilda did against us.
End of season review
Oddly, 2013 was the first season in which Goldstein played every single game. A career-high in hit-outs in a season was Goldstein's reward, amassing 822 in his 22 games.
In a promising sign, the left-footer also hit the scoreboard towards the back end of the year, kicking seven goals in his last six games.
Goldstein had a slow start to the year as he came to terms with his slightly changed role. He spent more time playing a kick behind in the play in a flashback to how ruckmen used to play.
After being substituted in the Round 4 loss to Sydney, Goldstein was dropped to the VFL. He responded in the best possible way with 63 hitouts for North Ballarat and soon found himself back in the senior side.
McIntosh's injury paved the way for Goldstein to resume his 2011 role and he excelled. He hit his best form at the same time as the team, giving the midfield first use more often than not in North's six match winning streak.
In the absence of McIntosh, Goldstein was North's most improved player as he single handedly carried the ruck division for the entire season.
He led the AFL in hitouts (741, average of 35), was named in the All-Australian squad and had his best finish in the Syd Barker medal to date (seventh). The ruckman cracked 40 hitouts in a game five times - an extraordinary feat.
Impressively for a man of his size, Goldstein also averaged more than four tackles a game and showed why he is regarded as a crucial part of North Melbourne's future.
In his fourth season on the list, Goldstein had a breakout year. Alongside Hamish McIntosh, the duo gave Brad Scott a unique combination.
Throughout the year, Goldstein showed glimpses of what was to come in future seasons with his hitout numbers. Against Adelaide he had 41, coincidentally in one of the few matches McIntosh missed.
In the second half of 2010, Goldstein started to consistently get his name on the scoreboard. He kicked at least one goal in seven of the last nine matches of the year.
Handballs 10.4
Hit-Outs 33.9
Kicks 14 Western Bulldogs Rd 10
Handballs 15 Adelaide Crows Rd 4
Disposals 28 Western Bulldogs Rd 10
Marks 7 Western Bulldogs Rd 10
Hit-outs 57 Western Bulldogs Rd 10
Tackles 6 St Kilda Rd 16
Goals 2 Carlton Rd 7
AFL Fantasy 153 Western Bulldogs Rd 10
1 Fremantle L 141 - 59 5 7 12 4 34 1 1 4 1 0 95
2 Brisbane Lions L 87 - 107 3 7 10 4 33 0 0 0 0 0 68
3 Hawthorn L 87 - 71 2 13 15 3 28 1 0 0 0 0 70
4 Adelaide Crows W 71 - 59 7 15 22 2 24 4 2 3 0 2 93
5 Essendon L 58 - 116 4 9 13 1 25 2 1 1 0 2 63
6 Port Adelaide L 88 - 72 8 13 21 3 33 4 0 0 0 0 96
7 Carlton W 62 - 120 4 12 16 4 34 0 1 2 2 0 99
8 Geelong Cats L 80 - 104 4 10 14 1 37 2 1 2 0 0 79
9 Sydney Swans L 72 - 77 2 10 12 1 39 0 1 2 0 0 73
10 Western Bulldogs W 90 - 115 14 14 28 7 57 1 0 1 0 0 153
11 Richmond W 99 - 62 2 9 11 1 28 1 0 1 0 0 60
12 Gold Coast Suns W 72 - 99 8 12 20 2 27 1 2 1 0 1 81
13 GWS Giants L 68 - 91 7 6 13 4 42 2 3 1 0 0 84
15 Collingwood W 37 - 81 3 13 16 1 30 2 2 0 0 0 64
16 St Kilda W 112 - 73 10 6 16 5 39 3 2 6 0 0 117
17 Essendon L 86 - 81 9 10 19 1 32 4 2 2 0 0 88
Kicks 14 Western Bulldogs Rd 10, 2019
Handballs 16 Melbourne Rd 18, 2012
Disposals 29 Brisbane Lions Rd 9, 2012
Marks 10 Geelong Cats Rd 14, 2010
Hit-outs 80 GWS Giants Rd 12, 2015
Tackles 9 Richmond Rd 5, 2011
Goals 5 Melbourne Rd 3, 2016
AFL Fantasy 175 Essendon Rd 16, 2015
2019 North Melbourne 92 166 258 44 542 28 18 26 3 5 1383
2018 North Melbourne 139 181 320 74 783 34 31 63 12 5 2054
2017 North Melbourne 94 161 255 54 576 37 10 55 12 6 1647
2015 North Melbourne 157 195 352 100 1058 44 27 102 11 10 2666
2014 North Melbourne 98 190 288 52 838 27 29 114 10 7 2131
2012 North Melbourne 114 143 257 56 663 17 21 53 2 4 1641
2010 North Melbourne 123 121 244 90 367 26 18 70 10 12 1572
2009 North Melbourne 45 59 104 36 179 11 9 18 9 4 654
2008 North Melbourne 8 8 16 6 29 4 3 4 2 0 110
- Hit-outs: 13
- Goals: 2
Round 15, 2008 v Port Adelaide
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Port Adelaide: 4.3.27, 5.7.37, 9.11.65, 10.14.74
Round 15, 2011 v St Kilda
North Melbourne: 3.2.20, 7.3.45, 9.6.60, 10.10.70
St Kilda: 3.4.22, 10.5.65, 12.7.79, 12.7.79
100th Game
North Melbourne: 4.4.28, 10.8.68, 14.9.93, 15.13.103
Hawthorn: 4.2.26, 8.7.55, 15.10.100, 17.15.117
Round 1, 2016 v Adelaide
North Melbourne: 2.3.15, 6.6.42, 13.7.85, 16.11.107
Adelaide: 3.5.23, 9.6.60, 13.8.86, 14.13.97