A Hall of Fame career? Cornes names Bomber among most underappreciated players of all time

Kane Cornes says Essendon ruckman Todd Goldstein doesn’t get the credit he deserves, comparing his career to one of a Hall of Famer.

Goldstein is coming off another impressive performance, winning the most hitouts on the ground in Essendon’s upset of the GWS Giants and has made a strong start to his career as a Bomber.

That game was Goldstein’s 324th at the top level and saw him move into the top 50 for all-time games played.

Should he play on in 2025 he may become the most capped ruckman since Adam Goodes and Cornes believes the former Kangaroo is building a career of only the very best ruckmen.

“I just want to mention Todd Goldstein. Is there a more underappreciated player in the history of the game than Todd Goldstein,” Cornes questioned on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s building a Hall of Fame-like career. When you look at what he’s doing, in terms of the best ruckmen we’ve ever had, he’s joining that conversation.

“We speak about Max Gawn and rightly so and there are many others before him, but in terms of a top 10 of 15 ruckmen of all time…

“Goldstein is about to turn 36 and luckily Essendon got him.”

After 17 seasons at Arden Street, Goldstein left North Melbourne as a free agent at the end of 2023 to move to Essendon.

Sharing the ruck duties with Sam Draper on most occasions in 2024, Goldstein has helped Essendon to be ranked third in clearances and among the most potent on-ball mixes in the competition.

“We had Andy McGrath on the Sunday Footy Show yesterday… I don’t think he would mind me saying what he said off camera, (he was talking about) just how a teammate (Goldstein) is and the role he’s playing and how much the midfielders love playing with Tom Goldstein,” Cornes continued.

“I thought he needed some recognition because for far too long (he hasn’t had enough). He’s been in poor sides recently in North Melbourne and he hasn’t got the credit he deserves.”

Goldstein won North Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2015, a year he also claimed an All-Australian blazer.

In 2024, he’s averaging 9.4 disposals and 24.8 hitouts per game.