Todd Goldstein likely to stay at Kangas as Essendon poised to up offer to keep Sam Draper

Talks are underway with North Melbourne and Todd Goldstein’s management on a new deal, while the Bombers are expected to up the ante in their bid to keep Sam Draper.

Free agent Todd Goldstein is likely to remain at North Melbourne as a one-club player as he hits the hottest form stretch since his 2015 All Australian season.

Goldstein has been consistently linked to St Kilda, but their ruckmen Rowan Marshall has turned into one of the league’s best ruckmen as his exceptional season continues.

Kangaroos veteran Goldstein’s last month has been massive, putting together four games of 131, 149, 132 and 124 ranking points.

He is averaging career highs for disposals, contested possessions, clearances and centre clearances.

He is in talks to remain at the Roos in what would likely be a multi-year deal, having only just turned 31 and determined to play on well into the future.

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The All Australian would ideally like to be a one-club player, having played 12 mostly excellent seasons at the Roos.

It would be a bizarre career move to shift to a club like St Kilda where Marshall is clearly the No.1 ruck prospect for the foreseeable future.

Rowan Marshall is the main man at the Saints. Pic: Michael Klein

Todd Goldstein is eyeing a new deal. Picture: Mark Stewart

Marshall kicked 14 goals last year mixing ruck and forward but has peeled off seven straight 100-ranking point games, including last week’s 21-possession, 32-hitout performance.

St Kilda has offered Essendon ruckman Sam Draper $1.4 million of guaranteed cash over four years plus incentives.

But Essendon is expected to lift its offer to Draper to help him stay, having already lost budding ruck/forward Josh Jenkins to Adelaide in 2011 when it was seen to have strong ruck stocks.

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Essendon coach John Worsfold told SEN Radio he expected Draper to stay.

“Yeah I’m really confident (that we’ll be able to keep him),” Worsfold said.

“Those clubs have them on their radar, we have him definitely on our radar.

“We think he could be a wonderful, well and truly 200-game ruckman for the Essendon Football Club and have a great career.

“The development the guys have put into him so far has been awesome and he gets the credit for the work ethic he’s got, he’s a great young kid with a great attitude and he’s lapped up the program the boys have put in place for him.”

Sam Draper in action during the VFL preliminary final last year. Picture: Ian Currie