Three months into his new role as ruck coach at North Melbourne, Will Minson says he’s enjoyed working closely with the likes of Todd Goldstein and Braydon Preuss at training.

“They’re pretty keen to work hard and we’ve had a good summer to date,” Minson told North Media.

“Most of the hard work is still to come, but the guys are going really well.”

Once foes, Minson is now working collaboratively with experienced ruckman Goldstein, with the aim of getting the 29-year-old back to his very best.

“It’s one of the reasons I was really excited to come on board and take up the ruck coaching role,” Minson said.

“I think coaches ultimately are there to ask questions about what a player could be doing better, and there are some things that Goldy knows he needs to improve on.

“I’m here to hold a mirror to that and help him figure it out, because there’s no point telling people what to do, they need to understand it for themselves.”

Minson has identified Goldstein’s running ability as a unique strength, and one that separates him from the rest of the competition.

“I knew he was a brilliant runner, and it was one of the things I found really hard when I played against him,” Minson commented.

“To see him at training and the speed in which he can run, is something I couldn’t quite appreciate until I was standing right next to him.”

North’s younger ruckman have also impressed Minson, with the size of Preuss continuing to catch the 2013 All-Australian off guard.

“Probably another thing that’s blown me away has been how big Braydon Preuss is,” Minson said.

“I haven’t done much training since I retired, fair to say I haven’t done any, and some of the ball-up and boundary throw-in work I’ve done with Preussy has made me question whether I could’ve pushed him out of the way when I was up and about.

“He’s quite a man mountain.”

Draftee Tristan Xerri has made a good impression on Minson as well, and the former Bulldog is expecting big things for the 18-year-old.  

“He’s been awesome,” Minson added.

“I’ve really enjoyed his start to the pre-season and he’s got an incredible attitude to training, he’s a pretty fierce competitor, and I love some of the stuff he’s done.

“He’s very coachable which is great. He’s been wanting to do the little things I’ve tried to implement, and I saw them in match practice the other week and I got a little bit excited by it.

“He’s hopefully going to be a great player for a long time for the mighty Roos.”