NORTH Melbourne has not hit a stalemate in its contract talks with restricted free agent Todd Goldstein and is set to renew its discussions with the ruckman next week, North football director Geoff Walsh says.
Walsh said in January that North was "a fair way down the track" in its talks with Goldstein, but two months later the Roos' No. 1 ruckman remains unsigned.
Walsh told AFL.com.au on Friday that there were no major sticking points holding up the Goldstein talks, with the club and player merely in the middle of a typical negotiation.
"There are no issues between Todd and the club, we're just going through the usual backwards and forwards you get in contract negotiations," 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.
"We haven't spoken for seven days or so, but there's no angst, there's no stalemate – I've been involved in far longer negotiations than this one.
"I expect we'll look to pick things up next week."
Goldstein signed his existing two-year contract in January 2012 amid reports Greater Western Sydney was targeting the ruckman as one of the uncontracted players it was permitted to sign in its first two years.
An opposition list manager told AFL.com.au that as one of the AFL's best ruckmen Goldstein could receive rival offers of up to $600,000 a season to leave North as a free agent.
But Walsh said North did not feel any added urgency to re-sign Goldstein because of his free agency status.
"We've known from day one that Todd's a free agent," Walsh said simply.
Goldstein has played 101 games for North since making his debut in 2008, shouldering most of the Roos' ruck duties on his own the past three seasons.
The 25-year-old finished a career-best third in North's best and fairest award last season and made the preliminary All Australian squad in 2011 and 2013.
North has four other players set to become free agents at the end of this season – Lachlan Hansen (restricted), Leigh Adams, Michael Firrito and Brent Harvey (all unrestricted).
Walsh said North had opened contract talks with 25-year-old key defender Hansen.
"We've been talking to Alex McDonald (Hansen's manager) and had our first meaningful discussions this week," Walsh said.
