North Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss has voiced his displeasure that he is yet to play a senior game this season.
The 23-year old was one of the Kangaroos' most exciting young players last season and looked destined to be Todd Goldstein's successor in the ruck, but now that transition is not so clear.
Contracted with North until the end of the 2020 season, Preuss has been held to a VFL gig all year, averaging 45.8 hit-outs, including 15.5 hit-outs to advantage, as well as 12.7 possessions and 2.9 marks per game.
And the 206cm giant thinks he deserves a senior recall.
"It would annoy anyone playing in the twos, because we're here to play AFL not VFL," Preuss told AFL.com.au earlier this week.
"But 'Goldy' is in good form and why change a winning formula? As much as it pisses me off, it's understandable.
Preuss is focused on imitating the play of some of the AFL's elite ruckman and increase his disposal count.
"(I'm) just trying to get around the ground, they want me to try to take those contested marks," he said.
"The ruck work has always got to be there, but you look at (Brodie) Grundy and (Max) Gawn and all those sort of boys getting 20-plus touches a game. Yeah, (I'm) just trying to do that pretty much."
The Roos have opted to play one ruckman this year, but Preuss believes there is room for he and Goldstein in the senior side, much like Collingwood have unified Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox.
"They're going all right, so I should probably tell 'Scotty' (coach Brad Scott) that," he said.
Pruess is by no means disgruntled at North Melbourne and has enjoyed the team's rise this season, vouching that he is ready for his next senior opportunity when required.
"You're always just one injury away (from a recall) but in the time I've been here I've never seen Goldy miss a game through injury, so everyone's just got to stay ready to play AFL," he said.
"I can't wait for my next opportunity. I don't know when it's going to be.
"Hopefully we'll play finals this year and I can sneak into the side before that. But who knows?"
