Todd Goldstein has long been considered one of the AFL's premier ruckmen.
It's easy to understand why.
Goldstein is the complete package: he dominates ruck contests, clutches contested marks and runs around like a zippy midfielder.
When North Melbourne's season hung in the balance during a semi-final against Geelong last year, it was Goldstein who snared the game-saving mark in defence.
But a habit of failing to hit top form early in the season has frustrated the 26-year-old for some time.
As coach Brad Scott plotted how to push the Kangaroos past the preliminary finals, Goldstein was determined to start 2015 how he finished 2014.
The early indication is he has delivered, following up a strong showing at Adelaide Oval with best-on-ground honours against Brisbane.
"I haven't started very well for a number of years. Last year I finished off the season pretty well, but the first 6-8 weeks weren't great," Goldstein told AAP.
"That's been my focus all pre-season, making sure I'm ready to go.
"Making sure I didn't take anything for granted, making sure I was working hard from the word go.
"I'm full of confidence, had a good pre-season and very happy with how I've started the season."
Ruckmen are seldom noticed, but it was hard to miss Goldstein's influence last Sunday.
He repeatedly gave North's midfielders first use by outgunning Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin, but also produced a game-high eight tackles in the 82-point thumping.
Pressure is Goldstein's passion.
"It's what the side expects of me and what the coaches ask of me every week - to follow up at the stoppages and get the pressure up," he said.
"No matter who I'm up against, they can't really stop me from tackling and putting pressure on.
"That sort of stuff usually sets up my game."
In turn, Goldstein set the Kangaroos up with 23 disposals and 37 hitouts.
"He's looking as good as I've ever seen him," Scott said.
"He's really taken on board the attitude that he wants to assert himself as one of the dominant ruckmen in the competition."
Scott stopped short of calling Goldstein the best big man in the league.
"Other people will rate where he sits in the competition," he said.
"But we expect, regardless of who we play, he'll give us first use and be a dominant player."
AFL great Jonathan Brown, who ended a 256-game career with the Lions in 2014, went one step further.
"He's one of the best ruckmen in the competition. If not the best ruckman in the comp," Brown told Fox Footy.
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