Todd Goldstein's slow start to 2012 has almost nothing to do with ruck partner Hamish McIntosh's return from injury, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says.
Achilles tendon problems sidelined McIntosh for all bar one game last season, forcing Goldstein to shoulder North's ruck division virtually on his own. But he rose to the challenge, enjoying a breakthrough season that earned him selection in the preliminary All-Australian squad.
However, Goldstein has struggled since McIntosh's return in round one, and was subbed off during the third quarter of North's 36-point loss to the Sydney Swans last Sunday, after managing just seven disposals and 18 hitouts.
Speaking at Aegis Park on Thursday, Scott was adamant Goldstein's diminished 2012 output was purely a form issue.
"We've played McIntosh primarily as a forward, ruck and Goldy's just not playing at his best," Scott said.
"But we know he's a top-line player and we know the capabilities that he's got. There's nothing physical that's an issue. He's just got to get himself into the game a bit more."
PRESS PLAY above to watch Scott's press conference
Scott said McIntosh's return had had "little to nothing" to do with Goldstein's form drop, pointing out that Goldstein had spent 70-80 per cent of each game in the ruck compared to 85 per cent in 2011.
"So it's only a minor shift," Scott said.
Scott said the Goldstein-McIntosh partnership would need "some tinkering at times" during the season, but was confident it could work provided both were playing at their best.
Meanwhile, Scott said Lindsay Thomas' collision with Gary Rohan last Sunday, which left the young Swan with a season-ending compound tibia fracture, would not change the way the small forward attacked the ball.
Thomas was controversially offered a two-week suspension by the Match Review Panel but successfully challenged a rough conduct charge at the Tribunal on Tuesday night, convincing the three-man panel he'd only had eyes for the ball when he slid into it ahead of Rohan.
"There have been some horrible misrepresentations of what happened. To say that Lindsay executed a slide tackle … you can't tackle someone in AFL footy … when you're contesting the ball and you've got it," Scott said.
"Lindsay got to the ball first. He made the contest. The Tribunal have vindicated what he did and he won't change his game."
Scott said the way Thomas had handled the controversy surrounding his case underlined just how much the 24-year-old small forward had matured.
Looking ahead to North's clash with Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Scott said the Kangaroos would make some changes to the team that lost to the Swans, with small forward Matt Campbell in doubt after rolling his ankle.
Scott said North would not specifically look to blood any youngsters against a young Gold Coast team that will be missing its captain Gary Ablett and senior defender Jarrod Harbrow through injury.
Can't view the video? Click here to watch on YouTube
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_Nick
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
