After 16 games in his first three seasons, Goldstein played 21 of a possible 22 games in 2010, finished in the top 10 of the club's best and fairest count and was also fourth for tackles.
Just as it was clear that Goldstein was capable of holding the chief position, North found a significant advantage in having two big men who were prominent in the stoppages and forward line.
"He (Goldstein) was a bit of a revelation," Allison said.
"He was really mobile and really good at ground level for a big fella ... surprisingly as good at ground level as he is with the ball in the air.
"A lot of his work was done picking the ball up off the ground, particularly in the forward line and farming it out to runners coming past.
"[Plus] his ruck work was really good. It's really pleasing for us as a club to know we've got a couple of really big, strong ruckmen who can compete."
However, on the back of his breakout season, Allison said the 22-year-old should be "licking his lips" ahead of 2011.
The AFL's introduction of a reduced interchange bench for next year - three players and one substitute - will give extra importance to those who can run out matches.
Facing greater scrutiny are ruckmen and their ability to contribute in other parts of the ground.
"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."
Earlier this month, Goldstein said he wasn't looking to threaten McIntosh's role in the side and that they considered themselves "a partnership".
When recruited by North in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, he effectively surrendered a place in the national men's under-19 basketball squad that was preparing for the 2007 world championships.
Meanwhile, the club is hoping that rookie-listed Majak Daw will spend a full season in VFL affiliate Werribee's senior side as the next step in his development.
Daw moved between the senior and reserve sides in 2010 but was troubled by a knee injury in the second half of the year.
The AFL's first Sudanese player, Daw is being groomed as both a key forward and ruckman.
Allison said that while the athletic 19-year-old often had the coaches "sitting up in amazement" at training, he would be surprised if he made his AFL debut in 2011.
He added that Daw would be considered for the NAB Cup competition.
