North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein has rubbished suggestion by former teammate Nick Dal Santo he is not a required player at the club.

With reports emerging a fortnight ago that the Roos have offered GWS young gun, Josh Kelly, a $9 million, nine-year contract, Dal Santo suggested the Roos may trade Goldstein in order to facilitate a trade, particularly given the emergence of promising young ruck, Braydon Preuss.

“They’re going to have to give something up, and Preuss might make it an easy decision at the Kangas," Dal Santo said.

“It will give them some leverage, it will free up a lot of cap space at the end of the year.

“Yes they’ve got draft picks and all those sort of things, but if they want Kelly or Martin (they may have trade Goldstein).”

However, Godlstein hit back at the suggestions, saying his former teammate appears to be “trying to take all of us down”.

“It’s not something I’ve ever had any conversion with the club about or my manager about,” Goldstein said on Fox Footy's AFL Today on Saturday morning.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m a North Melbourne player and will be definitely for at least the next two or three years — that’s what I’m contracted for.

“Whether the club wants to move me on at the end of the year, that’s up to them. All I’ve been given is assurances that I’m a required player and we’re looking forward to hopefully winning a premiership at some point.

“I’ve always been very consistent in saying I’ll do whatever it takes to help our side win a premiership. I’m very happy to play with Preussy and Preussy’s been a great player for us this first month of the season.

“It’s one of those things that’s going to take time for both of us to learn to play together. We’ve only played three games together so far and we’re still learning how to use each other’s strengths and make it work."

Dal Santo's call came following Goldstein being played in the forward line for much of the opening three rounds, rather than in the ruck.

He also suggested this week that former skipper, Andrew Swallow, may be moved on by the club at the end of the season.