Recalling in-form ruckman Todd Goldstein is the obvious answer for North Melbourne as they take on West Coast, but Kangaroos AFL coach Brad Scott says he’s undecided on the move.
Goldstein was an All-Australian nominee in 2011 in a season in which North’s former No.1 ruckman Hamish McIntosh was restricted to only one senior game after battling an Achilles injury.
The Kangaroos lost patience with their 2012 two-ruckmen policy and dropped Goldstein to the VFL last week, where the 23-year-old responded with a superb performance.
Unbeaten West Coast boast the formidable ruck combination of Nic Naitanui and five-time All-Australian Dean Cox, but Scott says it’s not as easy as simply putting Goldstein back into the side.
Scott says forward Drew Petrie is a legitimate back-up ruckman, if the seventh-placed Kangaroos opt to leave Goldstein out for Sunday’s round-six clash at Patersons Stadium.
“It’s not only the ruck duel,” Scott said on Wednesday.
“It’s the forward structure that we go with as well, whether we try to go a little bit taller.
“Todd did everything that was asked of him back in the VFL – 64 hitouts, a couple of goals, 22 possessions and playing with the intensity that he played with last year.
“He’ll be strongly considered.”
North’s bid to play finals football for the first time since 2008 took a step forward with an upset win over defending premiers Geelong in round three. But the Kangaroos fell short against Sydney, followed by a victory over Gold Coast.
Scott says North’s challenge is simply to string together four quarters of consistent football like they did against the Cats.
“We’re certainly in a position where we think our best football is good enough,” he said.
North have several key-position players knocking on the door including Cam Delaney, Cam Pedersen, Lachie Hansen and Nathan Grima.
Following last week’s controversy over the close-checking tactics of Brisbane’s Andrew Raines on Geelong’s Joel Selwood – which included Selwood hitting Raines, Raines retaliating and receiving a one-match ban – Scott has told his players to keep their focus on the ball.
“Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells get it every single week. We will never complain about the tactics employed against them,” Scott said.
“We back the umpires in to do their job.
“Quite often, they see the retaliation. They don’t see the instigator.
“So all eyes will be on the instigator this week, I’m sure.”
AAP gab/jds/
