GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 10: Esava Ratugolea of the Cats and Todd Goldstein of the Kangaroos compete in a ruck contest during the 2019 AFL round 21 match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Geelong have ramped up its efforts to acquire out-of-contract North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein, according to Channel Seven's Tom Browne.
St Kilda have also been linked to the 31-year old, however, Browne believes the Cats are "coming hard."
Geelong's need for a true ruckman were exemplified in Friday night's qualifying final loss to Collingwood, omitting Rhys Stanley at the last minute to use Mark Blicavs in a makeshift role.
“Geelong this weekend are coming hard for Todd Goldstein from North,” he told Channel 7’s AFL Game Day.
“Their efforts will only intensify after Friday night. They weren’t confident with (Rhys) Stanley, (Mark) Blicavs had to go into the ruck.
“It really cost them in the ruck and defence. (The Cats are) all in now on trying to get Todd Goldstein.”
The Cats have long struggled to lock down its number one ruckman, rotating between Stanley and Zac Smith in recent years.