Max Gawn says ruckmen trying to reach standard set by North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein

MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn said living up to All-Australian tap king Todd Goldstein has given ruckmen a whole new standard to live up to.

AFL Round 22. North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium. Todd Goldstein and Jordan Roughead contest a boundary throw in. Pic: Michael Klein. Saturday August 29, 2015.

MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn said living up to All-Australian tap king Todd Goldstein has given ruckmen a whole new standard to live up to.

The 24-year-old, who said he was ready to show that he could mix it with the best this season, knows he will have to cover a lot more ground in 2016 and is looking to Goldstein for inspiration.

“I am fitter,” Gawn said.

“The ruck role will increase to a 90 per cent ruck role, similar to Goldstein. He’s set the standard in how much time ruckman need to be on the park for and hopefully I can cover the ground more than what I did last year.

“It’s just (about getting) that confidence at the level to know that you can mix it with the best … hopefully I can take that ahead to this year.”

Gawn has impressed coaches this pre-season, starring in last week’s intra-club match and having been on the receiving end of plenty of praise from coach Paul Roos over the summer.

He said he is a lot more comfortable with being considered a leader of the young team, and said the team is determined to be a lot more competitive this season.

“We’re not there just to hang our head on being competitive. We want to win,” Gawn said.

“We’ve got a good, young talented list.”

Todd Goldstein asserts his authority over Gawn in this contest last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Originally published as Max Gawn says ruckmen trying to reach standard set by North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein