A new chapter is set to be written in the career of Todd Goldstein on Monday night, with the North Melbourne ruck closing in on the AFL’s all time hitout record.

Now within single digits of current record-holder Aaron Sandilands, Goldstein is showing no signs of slowing down 266 games into his career. If anything, he’s getting better with age.

Despite 2021 being David Noble’s first season at the helm, he understands the impact Goldstein has had on the club over the course of his career.

“His longevity is unbelievable … his ability to be that consistent over a long period of time, it’s probably the definition of a champion,” Noble told North Media.

“By the time he gets to the end of his career I think we’ll look back with a whole lot of respect with what he’s done for the club.”

It’s almost poetic that the number 22 looks set to topple the record in Perth, the city where Sandilands played his whole career.

However, the opponent on this occasion is West Coast, not Fremantle, and Goldstein’s opponent comes in the form of Nic Naitanui, not Sandilands.

Arguably an era defining ruck in his own right, Naitanui’s athleticism offers a different type of ruck challenge to Goldstein, but Noble says his ruck is ready to perform.

“‘Nic Nat’ is a challenge at any point in time when you come up against him [with] his power and his jump and his capacity to get that reach over the top,” Noble said.

“Goldy’s got to do his work, he’s been planning as he does most weeks against that. We’ve got to try to nullify that dominance.

“It’s a great opportunity for Todd but it’s not our only focus. Our focus is our work our midfield has to do, the work they have to put in.”