Todd Goldstein Biography

Todd Goldstein has officially joined Essendon as an unrestricted free agent after 315 games for North Melbourne.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity Essendon has presented to me to continue my career and I look forward to joining a list with great potential," Goldstein said.

Todd Goldstein nominates Essendon as his new home after informing North Melbourne of his decision to leave last month.

Todd Goldstein will depart the Kangaroos in a bid to continue to play regular AFL football at another club.

Goldstein's senior playing opportunities were set to be severely limited if he remained at Arden Street next year, with Tristan Xerri, who played the final eight games of the season, set to be first-choice ruckman.

Todd Goldstein hopes to continue his career in 2024, even if that's as a mentor to the North Melbourne's younger stalls.

"At this point, yeah, I'm keen to look to play on," Goldstein told reporters.

"But we have had no conversations with the footy club. I haven't had any conversation with my manager about it.

"For me, it's just about trying to help this footy club where I can this year, and when it gets closer to the end of the year, I'm sure those discussions will be had."

Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson picks the younger Tristan Xerri ahead of veteran Todd Goldstein for the Kangaroos' 2023 season opener.

"He's continued to improve his application to his training, and ultimately, he is the future of our ruck division at the footy club," Clarkson said.

"Goldy's been a great stalwart, but the future in terms of the next 5-10 years is going to be with a newer guy coming in."

Ben Cunnington caps a career-best season with his second Syd Barker Medal as the Kangaroos' club champion for 2019.

Cunnington polled 242 votes and held out fast-finishing defender Robbie Tarrant (227) and Todd Goldstein and Trent Dumont (both 192).

After speculation that he may have been on the move, Todd Goldstein signs a new three-year deal with North Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2022.

Goldstein says Rhyce Shaw's appointment as senior coach of North Melbourne was the catalyst in his decision to sign a three-year deal.

"The club putting Rhyce in quite early definitely helped the conversations, because we could start those conversations a lot earlier," Goldstein said.

"Rhyce has shown a lot of confidence in me and that he did really want me as a player.

"The relationships he's built with the whole group and the whole staff has been unbelievable, that definitely plays a big part in it, and I'm really excited about the young guys that are coming through and where this group could go."

Melbourne has emerged as a surprise suitor for lightly played Kangaroos ruckman Braydon Preuss.

Preuss played eight games last year and threatened Todd Goldstein's status as North Melbourne's No.1 big man, but failed to play a senior match in 2018 despite dominating at VFL level.

Port Adelaide runner Chad Cornes has been handed a one-game suspension for swearing at North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.

The incident occurred when Goldstein was involved in a collision with Power vice-captain Ollie Wines in the third quarter of the round six clash at Etihad Stadium.

Goldstein was subsequently fined $1500 for misconduct against Wines.

"Cornes' actions had the potential to escalate an on-field incident and was a major breach of his role," AFL Football Operations Manager Steve Hocking said.

Alex Ishchenko leaves Brad Scott's coaching team.

Ruckman Todd Goldstein, who in 2015 won North's best and fairest award and All Australian selection, paid tribute to Ishchenko's role in his development.

"I'm indebted to Alex and the work he's done with me over the journey," Goldstein said.

"His experience and knowledge of the ruck craft and the game has been invaluable.

"He's helped me through so many periods in my career since becoming ruck coach in 2010 and I'm sad to see him go."

Todd Goldstein quashes speculation he could leave the North Melbourne at the end of 2017.

"I want to be a premiership player at North Melbourne," Goldstein said.

"That's where my heart stays and I'm doing everything I can to get back to that. I feel like everything's not that far off. It's very close, we've just got to put that icing on the cake."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Todd Goldstein remains the club's No.1 ruckman.

Goldstein was the 2015 All Australian ruckman, but has failed to reach those heights this season as Braydon Preuss emerges as a challenger within the club.

"I think Preuss is going to develop really strongly and we've seen only a glimpse of what he's going to be capable of," Scott said.

"But Goldy at his best is as good as any ruckman in the competition, in my view, so Goldy's got to get back to that and Preussy's got a long way to go to bridge the gap to Goldy's best.

"So we'll just keep working with them. We're in a really fortunate position as a club where we've got both of them on our list."

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says he and newcomer Braydon Preuss can play in the same side.

Goldstein is an elite runner for a man of 201cm, while 207cm Preuss is a man-mountain that possesses a physical presence.

"There is no reason why we can't play together and we've played three games together (this season)," Goldstein said.

"We both feel we can play in the same side, and we have such different strengths (that) really compliment each other in the way we play our footy.

"(But) having competition for spots is always good, it does keep you pushing."

Braydon Preuss says his partnership with Todd Goldstein remains a work in progress, but the North Melbourne ruck revelation believes they have complementary skill sets that can be deployed against opponents on a horses-for-courses basis.

After spending 2015 and 2016 on North's rookie list, Preuss' development this year has taken North and the 206cm Queenslander, himself, by surprise.

"The good thing with us is that we're very different types of ruckmen. Goldy is more that athletic type and I'm just more of a big body," Preuss says.

"So we can probably change (who spends most of the game in the ruck) depending on our opponent.

"There will be opponents Todd is more suited to and there will be opponents I'm perhaps more suited to.

"We're still trying to learn how to change on the field. We tried it a bit in the JLT, which worked pretty well and I reckon every game we're playing together we're just getting better at it."

Todd Goldstein is in serious doubt to face Geelong this week after leaving Friday's training session on crutches.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Todd Goldstein will be a tougher opponent for opposition ruckmen in 2016 due to the cut in interchange rotations.

"Interchange is going to be reduced so that will make it harder for opposition ruckmen to counter what 'Goldy' is able to do. He's able to play really high minutes and he plays his best football that way," Scott said.

"And opposition teams may not be able to rotate on him like they've done in the past, so we'll probably play Goldy in a similar fashion."

Todd Goldstein says he plays his best football when spending the majority of the time on the ground in the ruck.

"I think all ruckmen like to play the majority in the ruck," Goldstein said.

"You get more continuity in your game, you're around the ball more and allows you to statistically appear like you've had a better game because you're in it more.

"Obviously I would prefer to (play mostly in the ruck), but we're at the point now where our goal is to win a premiership, so whatever my role is to help us do that, I'm not fussed."

Watching North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein destroy his side with a competition-record 80 hit-outs last season has helped inspire Shane Mumford's comeback from major ankle surgery.

Mumford said being forced to witness Goldstein's performance against his Giants – which earned him three Brownlow medal votes – and being powerless to stop it wasn't easy.

"He came out and played an absolute blinder, so it was annoying for me sitting at home watching it on TV," he said.

"Just seeing things like that gives you a real hunger to get out there and prove that you're able to beat these guys and push yourself against the best."

Todd Goldstein turns his back on unrestricted free agency to sign a new three-year deal with North Melbourne that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

"I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to be a one-club player and it's something that I have always wanted to be. My decision to stay was easy, to be honest," Goldstein wrote in a letter to the club's members.

"There is a great belief in this playing group and what we are capable of achieving. This belief comes from the improvement we've seen over the last couple of seasons and the fact that we now have a more mature and mentally stronger playing and coaching group."

Todd Goldstein has capped a career-best 2015 season by winning his first North Melbourne best and fairest award.

Goldstein won the Syd Barker Medal comfortably from last year's winner Ben Cunnington with former Bulldog Shaun Higgins in third.

Todd Goldstein and Aaron Sandilands are locked in a battle for the VFL/AFL hit-outs record after both ruckmen passed Gary Dempsey's 33-year-old mark last weekend.

Former Kangaroo Dempsey set the previous League hit-outs record in 1982, when he had 952 in 24 games at an average of 39.7.

Sandilands, who entered the finals on 915 hit-outs, broke Dempsey's mark in Fremantle's qualifying final win over the Sydney Swans when he had 43 hit-outs.

But Sandilands' new record of 958 stood for just one day, with Goldstein breaking it in North Melbourne's elimination final win over Richmond.

Goldstein entered Sunday's game on 937 hit-outs and added 46 against the Tigers to set a new record of 983.

Goldstein and Sandilands have both played 22 games this season, with the Roo averaging 44.6 hit-outs a game to the Docker's 43.6.

Both ruckmen are set to play at least one more game for the season, with Goldstein set to shoulder North's ruck division in a semi-final against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night and Sandilands set to play in a preliminary final on Friday week.

Goldstein's lead of 25 hit-outs probably means Sandilands will have to play an extra game to overtake him.

For that to happen, Sandilands will have to hope that North bows out against the Swans and Fremantle advances to the Grand Final.

For the second successive year, the AFL's players have named Fremantle star Nat Fyfe the most valuable in the competition.

Fyfe, the Brownlow Medal favourite, polled 1455 votes to win the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players' Association's MVP ahead of North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein (578) and Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield (364).

Fyfe, 23, is only the third player in the award's 33-year history to win in successive years, following five-time winner Gary Ablett (2007-09, 2012-13) and Michael Voss (2002-03).

"It's such an honour to have been awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy two years in a row. Having the respect of your peers is one of the highest accolades we can hope to achieve as players – I'm truly humbled," Fyfe said.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott believes Todd Goldstein could be a smoky for this year's Brownlow Medal.

"I said at the start of the year he really wants to stamp his authority on the competition and put his hand up as one of the premier big men in the game, and I think he's well on the way to doing that," Scott said.

"(It's) really hard to say in terms of the Brownlow, but he's just been a really dominant player for us all year and he's been really consistent. I think he'd be right up there with a couple of others."

Todd Goldstein has a league record 80 hit-outs in North Melbourne's 56-point win against the Giants.

Jordan Lewis is suspended for two matches after striking North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.

"I've been pretty good for a while now and it's unfortunate that this creeps back into my game … I really worked hard to get that out of my game," Lewis told Fox Footy.

"Whenever you play a game and get reported, there's a certain part of you that feels little bit let down."

Jordan Lewis accepts a two-game suspension for striking North ruckman Todd Goldstein.

Lewis was reported at the 24-minute mark of the first quarter for a late and crude round-arm spoil that collected Goldstein in the head.

After 4 rounds so far in 2015, Todd Goldstein is averaging career highs in disposals, hitouts, tackles and contested marks, making him one of the most dominant ruckmen in the competition.

"He's looking as good as I've ever seen him and (he) has really taken on board the attitude that he wants to assert himself as one of the dominant ruckmen in the competition," North Melbourne Brad Scott said of Goldstein.

Todd Goldstein says abolishing the substitute rule will be benefit young ruckmen.

"For any young ruckmen coming through, it's going to give them a lot more opportunities," he said.

"It takes a while to get up to speed with the jump from VFL to AFL level.

"It gives an opportunity for young ruckman to get that fourth ruck spot on the bench which they can't necessarily get."

Ben Cunnington's emergence as an elite inside midfielder in 2014 has been rewarded with his first North Melbourne best and fairest award.

Cunnington won the Roos' coveted Syd Barker Medal on 47 votes, just one vote ahead of ruckman Todd Goldstein and rejuvenated midfielder Levi Greenwood.

Todd Goldstein signs a new two-year deal with North Melbourne that will keep him at the club until the end of 2016.

"It's something we've been working on for a while now, and I think we definitely always said we wanted to stay at the club and it was just about getting the finer details down," Goldstein said.

"When I got the phone call then from Tommy Petroro saying that it was all done it was definitely a massive relief for myself, and I'm really happy to be at the footy club."

The Kangaroos say they are confident Todd Goldstein is not far from re-signing with club.

"There are no issues between Todd and the club, we're just going through the usual backwards and forwards you get in contract negotiations," North football director Geoff Walsh said.

"(Goldstein's manager) Tom Petroro is looking after his client just as you'd expect and we're essentially involved in a final figure discussion."

Todd Goldstein has started talks with North Melbourne about extending his contract beyond 2014, with the ruckman suggesting he has little interest in exploring free agency.

"I love this footy club and I want success at this footy club," Goldstein said.

"The club's in talks with my manager, Tom Petroro, so I'm sure that will be done in due course and hopefully very soon."

Daniel Wells and Scott Thompson share the Syd Barker Medal after tying in North Melbourne's best and fairest count for 2013.

Wells and Thompson both notched 50 votes, one vote clear of ruckman Todd Goldstein with vice-captain Drew Petrie fourth, three votes further back.

Todd Goldstein has been rotated off the field only 20 times, which is the least of any ruckman in the competition.

"I know that's what I'm in for each game. You are pretty tired by the end of the game," Goldstein said.

"If I change out of the ruck that means Drew Petrie has to go in there and he's one of our most dangerous forwards and takes their best defender.

"So I'm not really that inclined to want to change with him too much. But we do need to try to change a bit more."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott denies that ruckman Todd Goldstein is on notice as the club looks to provide opportunities to Daniel Currie.

"'Goldy' has been a terrific player for us for a long period of time," Scott said.

"We see him as an All Australian standard ruckman. He's got terrific endurance for a ruckman. He's rucked one-out for a long time, so we know he can do that."

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein believes new ruck rules designed to speed up the game will benefit ruckmen with a strong fitness base.

"These rules are really going to change up the way ruckman have to see themselves," Goldstein said.

"I think now the fitter ones will definitely have the advantage, to be able to get to contests quicker."

Todd Goldstein says he is take on the Kangaroos' No. 1 ruck role following the departure of Hamish McIntosh.

"Probably in the last two years with his (McIntosh's) horrible injury run that he's had, I did have to step up and take that role. I enjoy it. I think every player wants to be the No.1 in their position," Goldstein said.

"It's definitely a role that I take on. Coming into my seventh year now, I do really need to step up and make the most of it."

Hamish McIntosh is looking forward to opportunities at his new club in Geelong after saying he struggled to gel in the ruck with Todd Goldstein at North Melbourne.

"Todd and I probably weren't connecting well, and then I went down injured and missed the rest of the year," McIntosh said.

"Probably from halfway through the year I realised that it was probably time to go and move on and look for other opportunities.

"When I heard about this opportunity to come to Geelong … it's such a great club that I grabbed it with both hands.

"I'm just looking to getting my body right and improving my footy and helping the Cats get some more success in the next couple of years."

Todd Goldstein says being a father has helped him reach a new level as a footballer.

"I think having to grow up quite fast, once we had Olivia and now Mackenzie, really has made that process quicker than it may have happened otherwise," Goldstein said.

"You can get very focused on football and a little bit consumed by it. Having them as my outlet is really good.

"When you come home and you haven't had a great game and the side's lost or something like that, just to come home and see them, it does make you move on."

North Melbournce coach Brad Scott says Todd Goldstein is no certainty to return despite a dominant VFL performance where he amassed 64 hit-outs, 22 possessions and kicked two goals in the VFL.

What I can say is Todd did everything that was asked of him back in the VFL - he played with the intensity he played with last year. That's what we asked him to go back and do ... so he'll be strongly considered," Scott said.

Brad Scott the poor form of Todd Goldstein so far in 2012 is not related to him sharing ruck duties with Hamish McIntosh who has returned from injury.

"We've played McIntosh primarily as a forward, ruck and Goldy's just not playing at his best," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"But we know he's a top-line player and we know the capabilities that he's got. There's nothing physical that's an issue. He's just got to get himself into the game a bit more."

Todd Goldstein has re-signed with North Melbourne, sticking with the club until at least 2014.

"The club is going in the right direction and hopefully the results will follow suit," Goldstein told the Herald Sun.

"With the talent we've got and Brad [Scott] at the helm, things are looking good. We're giving ourselves the best opportunity to succeed and I'm definitely backing this group."

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein will undergo scans after injuring his ankle in the win over Essendon on Saturday.

"He's a really important player for us and it was really important that he stood up and played the game out because in the absence of McIntosh all year, he's been vitally important to us," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"We won't take any risks with him because he's so important but we'll get him scanned and make sure he's okay for next week."

With teammate Hamish McIntosh out injured, Todd Goldstein faces a baptism of fire as North's leading ruck option, coming up against arguably the three best ruckmen in the game in the first three weeks.

"It's a good opportunity and hopefully I can keep the spot warm until 'H' (McIntosh) is back and we can work together again," Goldstein said.

Todd Goldstein's basketball background may see him overtake Hamish McIntosh as North Melbourne's main ruckman, assistant coach Brett Allison says.

"With a lot more running involved and mobility needed, certainly that's an area that Todd's got a little bit of an advantage over Hamish at the moment," Allison said.

"Hamish is more your traditional type ruckman with a big, tall, strong frame, whereas Todd really gets an advantage from his basketball background ... a lot more agility and a lot more mobility at ground level, which really helps us."

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says his consistency is improving after kicking five goals against the Demons in the Kangaroos' 62-point win.

"Part of being one of the young players is you've got to try to find consistency, which I probably didn't have early on in the season," he said. "I'm starting to find it now, which is nice.

"My match fitness at AFL level was lacking early on in the year. Now I've played a handful of games, I'm definitely feeling a lot more comfortable and a lot fitter out there."