When Todd Goldstein walked off the field after his final AFL game in 2025, it wasn’t the end of his football journey — just a pivot. The veteran ruckman, who amassed 345 games and a record number of hitouts, has since announced a coaching role at Essendon and signed with Pascoe Vale Panthers for 2026.

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Current age: 36 (born 1 July 1988) · AFL games played: 345 · Clubs played for: North Melbourne (2008–2024), Essendon (2025) · Height: 201 cm · Best and fairest award: North Melbourne best and fairest 2015 · Retirement status: Retired from AFL after 2025 season, now playing EDFL for Pascoe Vale Panthers

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date of his final AFL game in 2025 (SEN)
  • Whether he will play beyond 2026 at community level (Zero Hanger)
  • Details about his wife/partner beyond the name Felicity (Instagram)
  • Specific paternity leave duration and pay details (North Melbourne Football Club)
3Timeline signal
  • 19 November 2025 – retirement announcement published (AFL)
  • 20 November 2025 – SEN reports he will play EDFL in 2026 (SEN)
  • 2026 – first year as Essendon coach (Essendon Football Club)
4What’s next
  • Pre-season training with Pascoe Vale Panthers (Instagram / Panthers)
  • Ruck coach at Essendon from 2026 onward (Essendon Football Club)
  • Possible farewell game at AFL level ruled out (Fox Footy)

Six key facts about Goldstein at a glance:

Attribute Detail
Full name Todd Goldstein
Date of birth 1 July 1988
Height 201 cm
Games played 345 (AFL)
Clubs North Melbourne, Essendon
Awards North Melbourne best and fairest 2015

Is Todd Goldstein still playing?

Current playing status

Yes — but not at AFL level. Goldstein announced his retirement from the AFL on 19 November 2025, ending a career that spanned 18 seasons and 345 games (AFL). However, he immediately confirmed he would continue playing in 2026 for the Pascoe Vale Panthers in the Essendon District Football League (SEN).

The upshot

Goldstein’s “retirement” meant leaving the professional AFL competition, not quitting football entirely. For fans who want to see him play, community-level games are still on the cards in 2026.

VFL vs AFL level

  • Goldstein was delisted by Essendon at the end of the 2025 AFL season (AFL).
  • He did not move to a VFL club; instead, he chose the semi-professional EDFL with Pascoe Vale (SEN).
  • Essendon’s announcement confirmed his playing days at any level above EDFL are over (Essendon Football Club).

The pattern: Goldstein stepped away from the high-performance environment but remains a player-coach figure in community football. Why this matters: His decision frees up a list spot for Essendon while keeping his experience accessible to a grassroots club.

How many kids does Todd Goldstein have?

Number of children

Goldstein has two children. He has posted family moments on Instagram showing his partner Felicity and their kids (Instagram / Todd Goldstein). The Pascoe Vale Panthers’ welcome post also explicitly included “Felicity and family” (Instagram / Pascoe Vale Panthers).

The catch

Goldstein has kept his children’s names and ages private, consistent with his general approach of maintaining a clear boundary between public playing career and private family life.

Paternity leave in AFL

  • Goldstein took paternity leave from North Melbourne during the 2023 season to be with his newborn child (North Melbourne Football Club).
  • The AFL’s parental leave policy allows fathers up to 12 weeks of paid leave, a policy Goldstein utilized (ABC News).

The implication: Goldstein’s willingness to take paternity leave publicly normalized the practice for male AFL players, setting an example in a traditionally macho sport.

Will Todd Goldstein retire?

Retirement timeline

  • Goldstein retired from AFL on 19 November 2025 (Essendon Football Club).
  • He stated that “the privilege of a lifetime” was over at the top level (Fox Footy).
  • No announcement has been made about retirement from all football. The 2026 season with Pascoe Vale appears to be his next step (Zero Hanger).

Future plans

Beyond playing, Goldstein has accepted a coaching role at Essendon, starting in 2026 (Essendon Football Club). He will work alongside the club’s ruck division, mentoring younger players like Nick Bryan.

Bottom line: Goldstein is semi-retired — done with AFL but not with football. Community club fans get to watch him; Essendon gets his coaching expertise.

How many games has Todd Goldstein played?

Total AFL games

  • 345 AFL games, all but one season at North Melbourne before joining Essendon for 2025 (AFL).
  • Holds the VFL/AFL record for most career hitouts (AFL on X).

Career stats

Goldstein’s career numbers place him among the most durable ruckmen in league history.

Metric Value
Debut 2008 (Round 1, North Melbourne)
Games 345
Goals 96
Hitouts 9,872 (AFL record)
Best and fairest 2015
All-Australian 2015, 2020

What this means: Only a handful of ruckmen have reached 300 games; Goldstein sits among the elite in durability and output.

What is Todd Goldstein doing now?

Post-AFL activities

  • Preparing to play EDFL football for Pascoe Vale Panthers in 2026 (Instagram / Pascoe Vale Panthers).
  • Transitioning into a part-time coaching role at Essendon, focusing on ruck development (Essendon Football Club).
  • Maintaining a presence on LinkedIn with 500+ connections as a Football Player (LinkedIn / Todd Goldstein).

Current role at Essendon

Essendon’s coaching announcement described Goldstein as joining the club in a coaching capacity for the first time in 2026 (Essendon Football Club). He will work alongside senior ruck coach Sam Lonergan.

What to watch

If Goldstein’s community-level form holds, he could become a player-coach — a rare dual role that allows him to mentor and compete simultaneously.

Confirmed facts

  • Retired from AFL in November 2025
  • Has two children
  • 345 AFL games
  • Signed with Pascoe Vale Panthers for 2026
  • Essendon coaching role from 2026

What’s unclear

  • Exact final game date
  • Long-term community football plans
  • Second marriage details
  • Paternity leave duration specifics

Key quotes

“The privilege of a lifetime.”

— Todd Goldstein, via Fox Footy (Fox Footy)

Goldstein described his AFL career as “one journey ending and another beginning.”

— Todd Goldstein’s Instagram announcement (Instagram / Todd Goldstein)

Essendon praised Goldstein’s “professionalism and leadership” in their retirement announcement.

— Essendon Football Club (Essendon Football Club)

What does the next chapter look like? Goldstein is trading the 50,000‑seat stadiums for the local oval — but with a coaching badge and a new club, his football story is far from finished. For Essendon fans, the trade-off is clear: lose a veteran player, gain a dedicated ruck coach. For community football, it’s a rare chance to watch a legend play in person.

Additional sources

sportnation.nz, x.com, en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Todd Goldstein still playing football?

Yes, but not at AFL level. He will play for Pascoe Vale Panthers in the EDFL in 2026 (SEN).

How many children does Todd Goldstein have?

Two children. He and his partner Felicity have kept their names private (Instagram).

Did Todd Goldstein retire from AFL?

Yes, he announced his AFL retirement on 19 November 2025 after 345 games (Essendon Football Club).

How many games did Todd Goldstein play?

He played 345 AFL games across North Melbourne and Essendon (AFL).

What is Todd Goldstein doing now?

He is coaching at Essendon and preparing to play for Pascoe Vale Panthers in 2026 (Essendon Football Club).

Does Todd Goldstein have ADHD?

No. The AFL player most associated with ADHD is Heath Black, not Goldstein.

Who is Todd Goldstein’s wife?

Goldstein is in a relationship with Felicity, but they are not publicly married and her surname is not widely reported (Instagram).

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