When Todd Goldstein hit the deck hard in the second quarter of North's match against Richmond, there was a collective gasp as the club's supporters contemplated the consequences of a serious injury to the Roos' number one ruckman.

Lying on the ground and in pain, Goldstein looked unlikely to continue playing with the Kangaroos' medical staff surrounding him.

"I went to try and take a mark over (Shaun) Grigg or someone like that and tripped over my own feet and didn't quite get the lift off I was hoping for.  The Azza (Aaron Edwards) just came through and got me with an incidental elbow to the head and a knee to the guts," Goldstein recalled.

But slowly, the 201 centimetre giant picked himself up and found his feet knowing just how important his fitness was to the team's hopes of closing the game out.

"I remember being sore initially so I stayed down for a bit until the doctor came out.  I had a sore neck, but that was about it.  I just needed a few minutes to gather myself and make sure I was fully intact and okay to continue.

"I knew it wouldn't have been great if I had've gone off.  I know that we couldn't really afford to lose a ruckman when we don't really have anyone else to step into that role without it impacting our forward structure.  

"Drew (Petrie) does a great job when I need a break but ideally we don't want that scenario where he has to be the full-time ruckman.  We need him kicking goals and playing that unselfish forward role that he does so well."

Goldstein has since seen a replay of the incident and knows how lucky he was to escape serious injury.

"I had a quick look at the vision yesterday and I don't need to see it again.  There's no damage is done so there's no need to dwell on it.

"I think I'm lucky that I've got a hard head and not too much brains in there, so not much damage could be done.  I was lucky....you're always lucky if you get up after those sorts of collisions.  You hope for the best and luckily I was able to dodge a bullet."

Considered one of, if not the best ruckman in the competition averaging 39 hit-outs a game, the 25 year-old says he thrives on being one-out but would like to explore a partnership with Daniel Currie when the right opportunity presents.

"I'm open to it for sure.  It's really whatever the coach decides is going to suit us best but I'm sure Dan and I would be able to do some damage together.

"I know when opposition teams see that it's just me in the ruck, they're thinking they can work me over but I love that.  I love the challenge of going one-on-two and I get great confidence from our coaches and Alex Ishchenko who is always telling me that I can 'hold my own'."