At the start of this season, Goldstein knew he would have to carry North Melbourne’s ruck division for most of the year, with the Kangaroos’ No. 1 ruckman, Hamish McIntosh, ruled out indefinitely after two achilles tendon surgeries.

At the time, Goldstein had played 37 games in four seasons, nearly all as a support ruckman to McIntosh.

The AFL Record spoke to him on the eve of the season when he was eyeing match-ups with West Coast’s Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, Collingwood’s Darren Jolly and Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands in North’s first three games.

Goldstein was fully aware Cox, Sandilands and Jolly had long been three of the AFL’s best ruckmen and that Naitanui was one of its most freakish talents, but he welcomed the challenge each presented.

“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 at the time.

Goldstein has done much more than keep McIntosh’s seat warm. After a bout of gastro forced him to miss North’s opening game against the Eagles, Goldstein, 23, has since stamped himself as one of the best young ruckmen in the competition.

Despite occasional ankle niggles, he has consistently been among North’s best players, shouldering the vast majority of the team’s ruck work, with occasional relief from Drew Petrie and Cameron Pedersen.

After round 18, Goldstein led the competition in hit-outs. In an example of just how much he has improved this season, he has had 586 hit-outs in 16 games in 2011 - 36.6 per game - which is more than he had in his 37 previous games (575).

Goldstein has also averaged nearly 14 disposals a game in 2011 and is ranked fourth at North in total contested possessions (139, at an average of 8.7 a game) and, remarkably for a ruckman, is fourth in tackles (70).

Although Daniel Wells, Petrie and captain Brent Harvey are enjoying outstanding seasons, if Goldstein maintains his current form, don’t be surprised if he seriously challenges them in North’s best and fairest count.

And, although Cox would seem to have the No. 1 ruck position in the 2011 All-Australian team sewn up, Sandilands’ injury-plagued season means Goldstein would be among the leading contenders if a second ruckman is chosen.