While Todd Goldstein remains a clear leader on the North Melbourne leaderboard in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year, Ben Cunnington can now boast a rare achievement.

The onballer scored a perfect 10 from the coaches for his efforts against the Cats, becoming just the third player to do so this year.

Cunnington joins Jack Ziebell and Todd Goldstein (twice) as those to have registered a perfect game, after amassing 24 disposals, four clearances and three tackles against the Cats.

With 24 votes, North’s number 10 moves into third place at the club behind Ziebell and Goldstein.

The latter had another outstanding game, backing up a 10-vote performance when the teams last met with another seven on Saturday night.

Goldstein was clearly the dominant big man on the ground, finishing with 19 disposals, 45 hit-outs, eight clearances and five tackles.

Remarkably, he has now polled in seven of 14 games this season and moves up to sixth overall on the AFL leaderboard behind five midfielders. He is the only player not classified as an onballer in the top ten.

Also among the best was Shaun Higgins, whose class was on show when the game was there to be won. He kicked three goals and finished with 19 disposals to poll four votes.

After spending a fortnight at VFL level last month, Shaun Atley has responded strongly. The running defender had 18 possessions and a goal, registering two votes.

North Melbourne vs Geelong

10 Ben Cunnington (NM)
7 Jimmy Bartel (Geel)
7 Todd Goldstein (NM)
4 Shaun Higgins (NM)
2 Shaun Atley (NM)

North leaderboard

52 Todd Goldstein
29 Jack Ziebell
24 Ben Cunnington
15 Drew Petrie
15 Shaun Higgins