North Melbourne have never started an AFL season as good as this, not in Todd Goldstein’s time anyway.
The Kangaroos have pulled off some major triumphs on their way to a 4-2 record.
Wins at the SCG against Sydney and at Patersons Stadium over Fremantle have put the Kangaroos on course for finals football, after last year’s frustrating finish in 10th spot.
“It makes a massive difference,” said Goldstein, a 107-game veteran who made his debut in 2008.
“I don’t remember the last time when I’ve been in the side that we’ve had a good start to the season.”
While things are rosy for the Kangaroos, the same goes for Gold Coast who are also on 4-2.
Two of the league’s big improvers clash in Sunday’s game at Etihad Stadium and the Gary Ablett factor will be a major headache for the Kangaroos.
The Suns’ skipper was a star in Gold Coast’s 15-point upset win against North at Metricon Stadium in round 11 2013, and Goldstein admits there’s only so much you can do against a player averaging 31.2 possessions per game.
“Gary’s an unbelievable player. There’s not much you can really do to stop him,” Goldstein told AAP this week.
“If you have a good day you have probably kept him to 25.
“It’s a responsibility on the whole side if you’re near him, you don’t just zone off. You don’t just let him go.”
Goldstein says the Kangaroos are making progress in their bid to ease the burden on 35-year-old playmaker Brent Harvey.
“That middle tier are now getting old enough that they can withstand a full season at the same level,” Goldstein said.
“So now you’re not just looking for Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Andrew Swallow to lift the team.
“You’re now seeing there are 10 to 12 blokes who have that chance.”
Goldstein says the Kangaroos are a long way off the side they want to be.
“We’ve just got to keep improving and knuckling down,” the 201cm ruckman said.
For a side which lost 10 games by 16 points or less last year, the Gold Coast defeat was painful among a series of heart-breakers.
“I remember the torrential rain. It wasn’t a fun day to play in,” Goldstein said.
“We really let ourselves down. Every time we lost last year stings us now.”
Goldstein is second in the league for average hit-outs on 37.4.
The 25-year-old says his focus is on showing consistent form, backing up his breakthrough season of 2013 when he was third in the club’s best and fairest award.
