North Melbourne is better placed to handle the hype and expectation of a preliminary final berth after crashing out at the final hurdle last year, according to All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein.

The Roos progressed to the penultimate week of the season by beating the Sydney Swans in last week's semi-final, booking a preliminary final meeting with West Coast on Saturday night at Domain Stadium.

But Goldstein says the club is better positioned to go one step further than last year, when the Roos were thrashed by the Swans in the preliminary final.

"We probably didn't perform as well as we'd have liked last year. Last year holding on against Geelong in the semi-final was probably our Grand Final, and we were sort of hoping that we'd get the job done against Sydney [in the preliminary final]," he said.

"This year we've been a lot more confident because we know we've got what it takes, we just have to bring our footy and play our style and that will get us over the line."

Goldstein, who was named in the 2015 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team for the first time on Tuesday night, said he noticed a change in mood after Saturday night's victory over the Swans compared to last year's success at the semi-final stage.

"There was obviously excitement and happiness, but it was very measured. Last year we were jumping around like idiots almost, none of us had won a final before so it was an amazing experience," he said.

"But we're a different group, we're a more mature group now and we know what it takes."

Goldstein said he is excited to face up against Eagles star Nic Naitanui, and acknowledged it was an important battle in the fight for a place in the Grand Final.

The 27-year-old beat out Naitanui for a place in the team of 2015 and said it was a thrill to be picked in the line-up for the first time given the strong showing of rucks this season, including Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands and Adelaide's Sam Jacobs.

"The focus coming into the year was to start well, because my starts over the last couple of years haven't been great. I got a lot of confidence from that which really helped," he said.

"It's a massive honour [to be named an All Australian]. Aaron's one of the best ever and Nic and Sam are on their way to joining that sort of company.

"It's a massive thrill for me personally, but obviously the main goal is to win Saturday night and play off for the premiership."