Todd Goldstein has been handed the biggest task in the AFL this weekend.
A total of 404cm big to be precise.
As has been the case ever since Hamish McIntosh went down with a season-ending knee injury in round seven, Goldstein will be rucking one out for North Melbourne in Sunday’s elimination final at Patersons Stadium.
And he’ll be doing it against the best ruck tandem in the competition – West Coast’s Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
The 203cm Cox amassed 21 disposals, 15 marks and three goals the last time the two teams met in round 15 – when the Eagles stormed home in the last quarter to win a thriller by two points in Hobart.
In addition to regularly giving the West Coast midfield first use of the ball this year, he and the 201cm Naitanui have also combined for 48 goals when resting in the forward line.
Both of the big Eagles were deservingly included in the 40-man All Australian squad this week.
Goldstein, 24, is fully aware of the importance of his role if the Kangaroos are to record an upset victory on Sunday in their first final in four years.
And the solo challenge is one he is embracing.
“I think that’s where I’ve played my best footy in the last couple of years because we haven’t had the option of Hamish around,” he said.
“Obviously having Hamish there would be handy, especially this week.
“All I can do is make a contest and that’s what the boys expect of me, that’s what the coaches expect of me.
“We’ve got a very good midfield and if I give them a chance to get the footy, they will.
“I don’t need to give it to them on a silver platter, I just need to give them some sort of opportunity.”
The midfield battle will pit the likes of Kangaroos captain Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and the returning Daniel Wells against Eagles Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis, Scott Selwood and Luke Shuey.
Goldstein, Cox and Naitanui are also all very capable of racking up possessions around the ground.
The 201cm Goldstein has benefited from an arduous fitness program over the last five years.
“To ruck one out you have to be unbelievably fit,” he said.
“I wasn’t the fittest bloke in the world when I first got here.
“I did a lot of work to get myself into a position where I can get through a game and and ruck one out.”
Cox will reach the 250-game milestone on Sunday.