• Who's on the move? Check out the status of 2015's free agents
ALL Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein has turned his back on unrestricted free agency to re-sign with North Melbourne.
Goldstein would have been one of the most sought-after names in next year's free agency crop after a career-best 2015 season when he won his first North best and fairest award and finished runner-up to Nat Fyfe in the AFLPA player of the year award.
North announced on Thursday that Goldstein had signed a new three-year deal that binds him to Arden Street until the end of 2019.
Goldstein said he never entertained exploring free agency and was confident North's playing group could build on its preliminary final appearances in 2014 and 2015.
"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.
"Our core group has been together for quite a long time, especially in football years, which allows us to have a greater understanding of how we want to play and more confidence in each other.
"In 2016, we want to make the top four and win a Grand Final. There is no point sugar coating it, we all crave that ultimate glory and won't accept aiming for anything less."
Goldstein was a restricted free agent in 2014 and re-signed at the time for a further two years.
If he had come out of contract at the end of next season, North could not have matched any rival free agency offers given players can only be a restricted free agent once.
Re-signing the 27-year-old ahead of the 2016 season is a massive coup for the Roos as he has emerged as their most important player in recent seasons.
Blessed with remarkable endurance for a ruckman, Goldstein has almost singlehandedly carried North's ruck division for the past five seasons, needing only occasional support from players including Ben Brown and Drew Petrie.
Even though the abolition of the substitute rule is likely to see more clubs play two ruckmen in 2016, Goldstein has been so successful as the Roos' sole big man that they are unlikely to change a winning formula.
The former Oakleigh Charger finished third in North's 2013 best and fairest award and runner-up last year, but he took his game to a new level in 2015.
His tap work has long been the strength of his game and, this year, he broke Gary Dempsey's 1982 record for the most hit-outs in a season (952) with 1058 at an average of 44.1 a game.
Goldstein also consistently influenced games around the ground in 2015 like never before, averaging a career-high 14.7 possessions and 1.3 contested marks a game, while finishing fourth at North for contested possessions (199), clearances (82) and tackles (102).
His outstanding season was recognised with his maiden All-Australian selection.
Goldstein's re-signing comes little more than a month after North took another prospective 2016 free agent off the market, extending vice-captain Jack Ziebell's tenure at Arden Street until the end of 2021.
North now has five remaining 2016 free agents on its books: Michael Firrito, Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells.
The big names set to enter free agency next year include Essendon defender Cale Hooker, Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom, Brisbane Lions on-baller Daniel Rich and Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack.
