North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein racked up record numbers as the Kangaroos pasted an understrength Greater Western Sydney by 56 points on Saturday in their AFL clash at Spotless Stadium.

The Giants reduced a 40-point second-quarter deficit to 23 by the final change, but North kicked 5.4 to 0.1 in the last term to record an 18.9 (117) to 8.13 (61) win.

Goldstein racked up 80 hitouts, 10 more than the record set by the Dockers’ Aaron Sandilands against Gold Coast earlier this season and it is believed he also set a record mark for hitouts to advantage.

Up against third-choice Giants ruckman Rory Lobb, playing just his third senior game, Goldstein helped the visitors to a massive 89-23 advantage in the hitouts and a 20-4 win in centre clearances.

The competition’s in-form ruckman did all that despite copping a couple of facial knocks during the game.

North had the jump on the Giants at the start of each quarter, but the home team appeared to rally in the latter stages of the third before running out of gas in the last.

Robin Nahas kicked four goals and Jarrad Waite and Jamie Macmillan each booted three for the Kangaroos and Nick Dal Santo tallied a game-high 34 touches in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

Giants small forward Rhys Palmer booted three goals for GWS in his first game back from a shoulder injury.

The Kangaroos slammed on the first five majors inside 17 minutes and led by 28 at the first break.

The visitors made another hot start to the second quarter, kicking two goals inside the first three minutes to blow their lead out to 40.

The Giants competed well for the rest of the quarter and trailed by 32 at the long break.

North kicked three early goals in the third quarter to build a 44-point buffer, but the Giants bagged the last three of the term.

North captain Andrew Swallow was reported for a trip, while forward Drew Petrie needed treatment before the game after suffering a head knock from a collision with teammate Scott Thompson.