North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein missed his chance to silence his critics

EVERY young footballer dreams of having a kick to win the match. But what happens when you make a mess of it? Todd Goldstein spoke to JON RALPH about his horror miss.

Todd Goldstein missed a chance to win the game for North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

TODD Goldstein must have been waiting all year to stick it up those damned critics.

All season the fans and media have been pushing for the Roos to select Braydon Preuss, the new and flashy model on the club’s shelf.

All year Brad Scott has been wanting to clinch a close one to prove his side don’t choke when the going gets tough.

Four losses by a combined total of 10 points meant he just had to shut his mouth and wait for his boys to finally get it done.

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So there Goldstein was, ball in hand after a ruck free kick, 20 metres out on minor angle and with the game on his boot as the final seconds ticked down.

It was the AFL’s version of a basketball free throw, or a six-foot putt for a PGA professional.

And then he went and did it.

Goldstein’s hooked shot at goal and consigned the Roos to their fifth nailbiting loss this year, a four-point Etihad Stadium defeat against Fremantle.

Fremantle first-gamer Ryan Nyhuis had seemed the unlikeliest four-goal hero after his major with 149 seconds to play put the Dockers a goal to the good.

North Melbourne and Fremantle players react after the siren. Picture: Getty Images

Nyhuis was a late inclusion for David Mundy and had never played in attack for the Dockers yet kicked his goals on All Australian candidate Robbie Tarrant.

Then Jack Ziebell’s 55m bomb was rushed and then Sean Darcy’s clumsy ruck contest handed Goldstein his moment on a silver platter.

And yet like so often before in this moment of frustration, he lost his composure and the Roos again walked away empty-handed.

The Roos had come back from 25 points down near half time through the brilliance of Ben Brown (four goals) and the smooth-moving Shaun Higgins.

But as Goldstein told the Herald Sun post-match, those close ones just keep slipping away.

“It is one of those things you train for and it didn’t go my way but at least I had the chance to have a shot. I would have liked to have finished it off,” he said.

“I am not too sure what went wrong but I felt the ball slipping a bit as I was kicking it and I just didn’t get great purchase so I hooked it a little bit right.

“I remember seeing Hamish McIntosh (missing a late shot) a few years ago so it happens but I just have to keep working on it and execute it next time.

“At the time I wasn’t thinking about (being a hero), it was just what I needed to do and go through my routine and I just didn’t quite execute it.”

As is par for the course at North Melbourne, the highs were mind-blowing and lows just made you scratch your head.

Higgins’ second-quarter goal was sublime.

Trapped on the boundary deep in the pocket, his left-foot checkside goal dribbled along the ground for 30 metres eluding Sean Darcy as new goal umpire David Rodan watched on.

It was inspired, made even more meritorious by the whack on the nose he had just endured in the previous marking contest.

Todd Goldstein reacts after missing his shot for goal. Picture: Getty Images

Ben Brown looks less like a cult figure with a bit of talent and more like a star forward to build a team around by the week.

He hauled in monster marks, kicked straight and snapped a freak goal with minutes left that at that stage seemed the game’s key momentum shift.

But Majak Daw frittered away chance after chance and after regaining the ascendancy, the Roos again somehow let it slip.

Ross Lyon’s Dockers snapped their own five-match losing streak and showed they will be more than nuisance value in the last seven rounds.

Nyhuis was the seventh debutante this year, described by Lyon post-match as “dog hungry” after coming off the rookie list.

The kids showed plenty, with Nathan Fyfe back to his powerful best and Connor Blakely also exceptional.

Fyfe won 23 touches to half time, then went forward to break a Sam Gibson tag and was just as effective.

Hayden Crozier and Nat Fyfe celebrate after the final siren. Picture: AAP Images

Blakely was back after serving his one-week ban for surfing while sick, no doubt roused by some home truths by Ross Lyon.

They did it all with Tom Sheridan off with a hamstring and Joel Hamling battling with a sore hip.

BEST

NORTH MELBOURNE: Higgins, Brown, Cunnington, Mullett, McDonald, Ziebell, Wagner

FREMANTLE: Fyfe, Walters, Neale, Blakeley,

VOTES

3. Ryan Nyhuis

2. Ben Brown

1. Nathan Fyfe