He’s already broken the record this season for the most hit-outs in an individual game, with 80, but one record wasn’t enough for Todd Goldstein.

On Saturday night, the North big man became the first player in VFL/AFL history to reach 1,000 hit-outs in an individual season.

It’s some achievement when you consider over 12,000 men have taken to the field in the competition’s history.

While Aaron Sandilands has been breathing down Goldstein’s neck for much of the season, the latter’s average of 44.22 hit-outs a game, compared to 43.55 (958 for season) has him ahead in the race for top billing, even with an extra appearance under his belt (Goldstein 23 games, Sandilands 22).

Remarkably, Goldstein now sits ninth in the all-time rankings for career hit-outs with 4,656. Among his competition are the likes of Dean Cox, Gary Dempsey and the Madden brothers, Simon and Justin.

But he’s still got a long way to go to catch Sandilands, out in front of 7,283 taps for his career.

Nevertheless, with just 148 games to his name Goldstein holds the best average of any player in the top 30 of all time.

It’s been a standout season for the number 22, in line for All-Australian selection when the final team is announced on Tuesday night.

Goldstein finished second in the prestigious AFLPA MVP last week, won The Age newspaper’s Footballer of the Year, and would go in as hot favourite for the club’s Syd Barker Medal.

Even the game’s top award, the Brownlow Medal is not out of his reach, despite hot competition from the likes of Nat Fyfe and Matt Priddis.

But perhaps there’d be no greater achievement than to help his side to victory against the Eagles on Saturday night.

Most hit-outs in season

Todd Goldstein (NM) - 1017* in 2015
Aaron Sandilands (FREM) - 958* in 2015
Gary Dempsey (NM) - 952 in 1982
Aaron Sandilands (FREM) - 890 in 2014
Will Minson (FOOT) - 860 in 2013

Most career hit-outs

Aaron Sandilands (FREM) - 7283*
Dean Cox (WCE) - 6628
Gary Dempsey (FOOT/NM) - 6479
Justin Madden (ESS/CAR) - 5746
Simon Madden (ESS) - 5226
Jeff White (FREM/MELB) - 5000
Darren Jolly (MELB/SYD/COLL) - 4968
Peter Everitt (STK/HAW/SYD) - 4961
Todd Goldstein (NM) - 4656*