Player Watch #31: Josh Goater - re-signed until the end of 2026

[Souup]

Souup my friend, care to remind me where you rated Goat in his draft class and what you think we can expect from him as a player?

Somewhere in the top 3-5 range from memory.

Athletic freak in every way - super quick over short and longer distances and an excellent vertical. Needs to improve his endurance, which is one of the main things holding him back at this stage. He's a 70-80m type player, run and carry for 15-30m and kick 50m+.

Started this year deep in defense but we've shifted him up onto a wing in recent times which I think suggests 2 things
1. His endurance base has improved
2. Reportedly, we wanted him to improve his defensive game

His kicking can be hit and miss, but I've noticed improvements there throughout this year at VFL level.

I think he'll roam the wing and I'd be hoping for ~15 touches and 300+ metres gained as a reasonable debut.

 

[Souup]

Just flicked through his game from this past weekend. I watched the first half and a bit live as most probably did but then switched over to watch our game vs Adelaide so I didn't see his second half.

Overall, the game from this past weekend was the best I've ever seen him use the ball. I feel like he's made great strides in this area over the course of the year and there were a number of moments where he was cool under pressure and hit short 15-20m kicks to teammates in space. The other noticeable thing from his game this past weekend was his desire to break the lines with his running. On at least 3 or 4 occasions he took the ball, ran 15-30m with some bounces and either kicked long or handballed to a teammate in space due to him drawing opposition players. I think this is definitely a directive he's been given in the last month - get the ball, break the lines, kick long or look to handball to a teammate in space. He certainly wasn't doing this in the first half of the VFL season - whether that was his fitness base or directive to be defensively minded (maybe both?), I'm not sure.

Really hope he gets a decent bit of it and is able to show off his traits because he's a seriously exciting player when in full flight.

 

[Hojuman]

Just flicked through his game from this past weekend. I watched the first half and a bit live as most probably did but then switched over to watch our game vs Adelaide so I didn't see his second half.

Overall, the game from this past weekend was the best I've ever seen him use the ball. I feel like he's made great strides in this area over the course of the year and there were a number of moments where he was cool under pressure and hit short 15-20m kicks to teammates in space. The other noticeable thing from his game this past weekend was his desire to break the lines with his running. On at least 3 or 4 occasions he took the ball, ran 15-30m with some bounces and either kicked long or handballed to a teammate in space due to him drawing opposition players. I think this is definitely a directive he's been given in the last month - get the ball, break the lines, kick long or look to handball to a teammate in space.

Really hope he gets a decent bit of it and is able to show off his traits because he's a seriously exciting player when in full flight.

Needs a trip to the barber though Souup yeh ?

 

[Passmore]

Just flicked through his game from this past weekend. I watched the first half and a bit live as most probably did but then switched over to watch our game vs Adelaide so I didn't see his second half.

Overall, the game from this past weekend was the best I've ever seen him use the ball. I feel like he's made great strides in this area over the course of the year and there were a number of moments where he was cool under pressure and hit short 15-20m kicks to teammates in space. The other noticeable thing from his game this past weekend was his desire to break the lines with his running. On at least 3 or 4 occasions he took the ball, ran 15-30m with some bounces and either kicked long or handballed to a teammate in space due to him drawing opposition players. I think this is definitely a directive he's been given in the last month - get the ball, break the lines, kick long or look to handball to a teammate in space. He certainly wasn't doing this in the first half of the VFL season - whether that was his fitness base or directive to be defensively minded (maybe both?), I'm not sure.

Really hope he gets a decent bit of it and is able to show off his traits because he's a seriously exciting player when in full flight.

there’s value in giving a kid time to develop in the VFL if he needs it. Throw him in too soon, he may not recover.

 

[Souup]

there’s value in giving a kid time to develop in the VFL if he needs it. Throw him in too soon, he may not recover.

I actually really like the idea of giving younger guys a taste in the back-end of a dead season - playing a game of senior football and seeing the difference compared to VFL level will fuel him over the off-season.

I'd agree that he's probably not yet ready, but it's going to be an invaluable learning experience to play at senior level, in-front of the home fans in the last game of the season.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Bailey/Curtis as the defensive winger and and Goater as the attacking wing. Nice.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Cannot wait to see Josh debut. Living the mutha truckin’ North supporter’s dream.

Go get ‘em GOAT! [emoji109]

 

[king of the road]

Spewin I can’t make the game to see him debut as I need to undertake my ceremonial duties for the opening of the greens to begin the season as the lawn bowls club champion at my local.

It’s tough at the top I tells ya.

Go on Goats!

 

[Mixed Results]

I actually really like the idea of giving younger guys a taste in the back-end of a dead season - playing a game of senior football and seeing the difference compared to VFL level will fuel him over the off-season.

I'd agree that he's probably not yet ready, but it's going to be an invaluable learning experience to play at senior level, in-front of the home fans in the last game of the season.

I remember Brad Scott doing that a few times with Aaron Black, Mason Wood, and Taylor Garner. There might be one or two others that I'm forgetting.

After such a disappointing year, seeing the Cunnington, Simpkin, Thomas, Davies-Uniacke, and Horne-Francis midfield for the first time, plus Goaters' debut, is going to be a tease that makes it a painfully long seven months of waiting to see us play again.

 

[CURVE]

Congrats Josh. Wear the 31 with pride.

 

[big_e]

Spewin I can’t make the game to see him debut as I need to undertake my ceremonial duties for the opening of the greens to begin the season as the lawn bowls club champion at my local.

It’s tough at the top I tells ya.

Go on Goats!

Just remember: small circles on the inside.

 

[Mr Lloyd Christmas]

I only expect 30 possessions and 2 goals.

Otherwise I will write you off like have Scott, Lazarro, Bonar, Atu, Hayden and co.

Go well Josh, I have faith in you.

 

[Marstermind]

Josh Goater

Last 10 players to wear No.31
Connor Menadue

31

Connor Menadue

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.5

4star

MG

203.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

4star

MG

78.8

2star

(2021) 7 games
Curtis Taylor

5

Curtis Taylor

Age

25

Ht

188cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

No current season stats available

D

6.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

(2019-20) 11 games
Braydon Pruess (2017) 8 games
Cameron Delaney

Cameron Delaney

Age

33

Ht

195cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

5.8

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

2.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.2

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.4

4star

(2012-13) 6 games
David Hale

David Hale

Age

41

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.4

3star

(2003-10) 129 games
Corey McKernan

Corey Mckernan

Age

52

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

0.7

3star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.2

4star

(1993-2001) 182 games
Michael Gallagher (1990-92) 38 games
Paul Spargo (1986-89) 52 games
Kevin McGuire (1981-85) 18 games
Brian Hall (1971-72) 11 games

Josh Goater is North player No.1046
Player 46 – Jack Sanders (1926) 1 game
Player 146 – Selwyn Baker (1931-34) 37 games
Player 246 – Chris Lamborn (1938) 5 games
Player 346 – Jack Doherty (1945) 14 games
Player 446 – Albert Mantello (1954-62) 107 games
Player 546 – Barry McAuliffe (1962-67) 41 games
Player 646 – Russell Muir (1972-75) 40 games
Player 746 – Mark Lisle (1984-89) 37 games
Player 846 – Peter Bell (1996-2000) 123 games
Player 946 – Ben Davies (2008) 2 games

Alphabetically he comes between
Ross Glendinning (1978-86) 190 games
Todd Goldstein

17

Todd Goldstein

Age

37

Ht

201cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

7.5

5star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

32.5

5star

D

16.7

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

7.4

4star

CL

7.0

5star

HO

32.9

5star

D

5.2

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

2.6

3star

HO

10.0

5star

(2008- ) 294 games

All Joshs to play for North
Josh Gibson

Josh Gibson

Age

41

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

3star

HB

8.4

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

4star

MG

196.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

(2006-09) 65 games
Josh Smith (2008-10) 11 games
Josh Williams

Josh Williams

Age

27

Ht

190cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

No current season stats available

D

13.0

4star

K

6.5

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

(2017) 2 games
Josh Walker (2020- ) 54 games

All J.G. initials to play for North
Johnny Gregory (1926-35) 156 games
Jack Gaudion (1933-35) 3 games
Josh Gibson

Josh Gibson

Age

41

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

3star

HB

8.4

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

4star

MG

196.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

(2006-09) 65 games

 

[BlueandWhiteinmyBlood]

Somewhere in the top 3-5 range from memory.

Athletic freak in every way - super quick over short and longer distances and an excellent vertical. Needs to improve his endurance, which is one of the main things holding him back at this stage. He's a 70-80m type player, run and carry for 15-30m and kick 50m+.

Started this year deep in defense but we've shifted him up onto a wing in recent times which I think suggests 2 things
1. His endurance base has improved
2. Reportedly, we wanted him to improve his defensive game

His kicking can be hit and miss, but I've noticed improvements there throughout this year at VFL level.

I think he'll roam the wing and I'd be hoping for ~15 touches and 300+ metres gained as a reasonable debut.

You rated him in the top 5 before the draft?

 

[Souup]

You rated him in the top 5 before the draft?

Yeah mate, I was pretty high on him - his ceiling is one of the highest in the draft.

He's raw, but has so much to work with.

 

[Harvs29]

Josh Goater


Alphabetically he comes between
Ross Glendinning (1978-86) 190 games
Todd Goldstein (2008- ) 294 games

He's destined for North royalty, alphabetically.

 

[XU1-ROO]

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[tazaa]

Playing well so far

 

[ferball]

He's doing okay, for a first game he's done some great things. Kept his head a few times.

 

[the big lebowski]

Looks comfy at the level

 

[gokangas]

Doing ok.

 

[krakouers]

Somewhere in the top 3-5 range from memory.

Athletic freak in every way - super quick over short and longer distances and an excellent vertical. Needs to improve his endurance, which is one of the main things holding him back at this stage. He's a 70-80m type player, run and carry for 15-30m and kick 50m+.

Started this year deep in defense but we've shifted him up onto a wing in recent times which I think suggests 2 things
1. His endurance base has improved
2. Reportedly, we wanted him to improve his defensive game

His kicking can be hit and miss, but I've noticed improvements there throughout this year at VFL level.

I think he'll roam the wing and I'd be hoping for ~15 touches and 300+ metres gained as a reasonable debut.

Not going so bad Souup

 

[Horizons_00]

Been nice and clean

 

[Flawed Genius]

Went when he needed to. Good boy.