The introduction of Majak Daw into the North Melbourne side has allowed Goldstein to drift forward for a rest, and the big man is embracing the opportunity.
"I love it. I kicked three goals the whole of last year so it's good to already beat that mark," he told NMFC.com.au.
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"Who doesn't like taking a grab and kicking a couple of goals?"
Goldstein's form puts him among the best rucks around the league statistically; he's averaged 38 hit-outs a game and had a season-high 17 disposals against the Bulldogs' Will Minson. He puts it down to the assistance from the versatile Daw.
"Having Majak, it's really given us that other option and gives me that little bit of break so I can run out games. In the last couple of weeks I'm really feeling the fruits of that."
The pair will face arguably their biggest test this week, and while the more experienced Goldstein will shoulder much of the load, he'll be calling on a special effort from Daw against West Coast's Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.
"It's a tough day working on the two of them on my own. With the support of Maj hopefully we can get a bit more of a better contest and really set the game up from there.
"I'll have to talk to Alex Ishchenko the ruck coach and try and work out a plan. Last time we played them it didn't work, so we are going to have to try something different, but it's just about trying to minimise their effect on the game and don't let them be the match-winners, which they have been the last few games we've played them.
"I'm glad Majak's really starting to fire now. It will be exciting to watch Nic Nat (Naitanui) and Maj go at it."
The combination of Goldstein, (Jack) Ziebell, (Andrew) Swallow and (Ben) Cunnington has taken another step forward in the middle. The Kangaroos sit second in the league for clearances this year.
"We've been building for a couple of years now," he added.
"We were working pretty hard together in the pre-season and it felt like we were starting to come together and really understand how each other works. A lot of unspoken things happen out there now and we know where each other's going to be."
Ruck contests mightn't look too different to the naked eye, but Goldstein admits he's working harder than ever before in getting around the ground.
In 2013, the umpires have been throwing the ball up at all stoppages, often reducing the time the ruckman has to get to the contest.
"It's definitely a lot harder work, definitely the first couple of rounds I was cramping up a lot more than I ever have...but I think someone like myself enjoys the new rule. I think it might tire my opponent quicker than it tires me out...Hopefully they throw it up even faster."
