During North Melbourne’s bye week, NMFC.com.au catches up with the assistant coaches to get their thoughts on every player on the club's list.

Following Wednesday's look at the forwards, today Alex Ishchenko discusses the specialist rucks.

Daniel Currie
“Before his injury he was every chance of getting a game. He’s a great learner and a great student. He listens to everything that’s being said and implements the things that you’re working on.

“He’s a great overhead mark and probably as good as anyone at the club in that respect. His skills at ground level were one of the things that stood out when we were looking at him in the SANFL.

“He got close to the play (before getting injured) and was always able to impact the contest with his hands and good work below the knees.”

Todd Goldstein
11 senior games, 5 goals
“We’ve really been working on his ground play and his marking but his ruckwork has been second to none. People have been talking up Will Minson as the standout ruckman of the competition, but Goldy is right up there with him.

“Having Majak in the side is enabling Goldy to change his game and make himself more dangerous. Most teams are now playing two ruckmen or sometimes even three like St Kilda did against us.

“He can work on his presence on the ground. In a tight game Goldy’s an emerging leader who can really start to set the tone in the game that we need at certain times. It’s about having the confidence to speak out and getting his team-mates to follow his lead.”

Ben Mabon
“Mabes underestimates his ability at the moment. I’ve been rapt with the way he’s been jumping on the bag at training and I constantly tell him he jumps as well as anyone. It’s just about believing in himself.

“When you’ve had a dominant ruckman like Goldy and before that it was Hamish, Mabes has always been like the ‘little brother’. The key for him now is to believe it’s time to stand up and deliver. I honestly believe he has the potential to do so.

“His aggression and his follow-up to the ball is second to none. If you look at his progress over the last three years there’s a really good correlation between his development work and his performance in the VFL. He is one of the better ruckman in the VFL now.”