But it wasn’t all about using his massive frame and strength to dominate opposition ruckmen during his 142 game career, as North Melbourne ruck-duo Hamish McIntosh and Todd Goldstein have come to realise.
“He is an absolute football brain,” McIntosh told kangaroos.com.au.
“The way he thinks about the game and challenges you to think outside the square has been a real eye-opener.”
Ishchenko took on the role as part-time ruck coach at Arden Street after the position was vacated by Corey McKernan following the 2009 season.
“It’s been fantastic to have aspects of both their games to learn from,” Goldstein said.
“Alex has been great for Hamish and I this year and he’s helped improve my game significantly.”
Ishchenko played 30 games for West Coast, 42 games for Brisbane, and 70 games for North Melbourne from 1987 through to 1995 and has enjoyed his time back with the Kangaroos.
“It’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Although he spends only a limited amount of time with McIntosh and Goldstein, the benefits for the club have been enormous.
“They’re both really talented players and as a combination they’re right up there in the top echelon in the competition so I reckon that’s a real coup for them,” Ishchenko said.
“The main thing is their second efforts and making sure that they’re dictating the tone of play in respect to the North midfield…so setting the tone of the play.
“It’s not a case of just trying to jump as high as you can and try and hit the ball down at angles of two o’clock and ten o’clock, it’s more than that. With North’s young midfield, it’s about trying to set the tone for the midfield and collectively work as a group to get the clearances.”
To achieve that outcome, Ishchenko has been working closely with senior assistant coach and midfield coach Darren Crocker.
“They need to work as a group to beat opposition midfields and last week was a great example of that. Up until half-time we were matching it with the Bulldogs, but the longer the game went on as a shoot-out, we knew their experience would begin to take control. So the reality was, we had to try and change the tone of the game somehow which we weren’t able to achieve.
“So the challenge for them now is to react to the different circumstances that present each week and dictate the play a bit more.”
Ishchenko says he’s been impressed with the high standard the pair has set and their competitiveness.
“Both of them are really good players on the break, they kick the ball really well and just have to work on other aspects of their game…the inside game.
“Most teams have one key ruckman where as North has two top-line ruckmen and also David Hale who can also come into the side and fill a void there.”
But Ishchenko is reluctant to take any credit for Goldstein’s rapid improvement this year.
“He’s a really talented player. He hasn’t played a lot of footy in real terms…the potential is enormous for him and if he works hard at his game he will go a long way.”
Upon visiting the club on Friday, Ishchenko admitted he had to re-jig the game-plan due to the withdrawal of Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands.
“The two Fremantle ruckmen Bradley and Johnson are really going to work to negate our guys…they will try and hunt them in some respects. So our guys have to be aware of that and look to control things from the outset.
