Goldstein an All-Australian
Todd Goldstein has been selected as an All-Australian AFL player for the first time in his career.
He also finished 10th in the Brownlow Medal count but has missed out on an elusive grand final berth.
Goldstein, who is the starting ruckman for the North Melbourne Kangaroos, had more than 1000 hit-outs this season, the first player to ever achieve that in one season, and averaged more than six kicks and eight handballs each game.
“I was hoping just to get a game when I was starting out,” Goldstein said, while noting that he was “fairly overweight” when he arrived as a player at the Kangaroos.
He praised the club’s coaches and conditioning staff for his success and said that he has developed his game immensely in the last few years.
“Around the ground and having an impact in marks took a bit of work … but the ruck work is something that has come naturally for me.”
Last month Goldstein was named The Age footballer of the year after collecting 102 votes in the home-and-away season, six ahead of West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff.
Former Brisbane Lions forward Jonathan Brown praised Goldstein.
“He’s been a real warhorse and he’s well deserved to win the All-Australian,” Brown said.
Goldstein only started playing football late because he spent most of his teenage years focused on basketball.
He was selected at pick number 37 by the Kangaroos in the 2006 draft and made his debut two years later.
JOSHUA LEVI
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