The ruckman dominated the centre hit-outs and got 27 possessions, 14 of them contested, in the Kangaroos' 25-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

He was the difference between the two teams, Bombers coach James Hird said.

Roos coach Brad Scott said Goldstein was well on his way to becoming one of the premier big men of the game.

Scott said it was difficult to predict the Brownlow contenders, but indicated his team's best player was in with a shot.

"I think he'd be right up there with a couple of others, he's pretty really dominant, it wouldn't surprise me if the umpires thought the same," Scott said.

Hird said the ruckman had proved too strong and skilled for Shaun McKernan to manage.

"The Goldstein performance was outstanding, one of the best performances I've seen by a ruckman for a long time," he said.

Scott admitted the scrappy game was not necessarily one to remember, labelling it a "dour affair," but he was glad to get win.

He said Essendon put up a good fight, showing tenacity around contests and defending well.

Ruckman and forward Ben Brown, 22, kicked four goals and one point and Scott called him a natural footballer.

"He's not a great player yet, but he's got the potential to be one."

Midfielders Aaron Mullett and Jamie Macmillan both hurt hamstrings during the match, but Scott was unsure of how much, if any, time they would miss.

He said Macmillan's injury looked the more serious of the two.

Hird praised his team for effort and intensity, saying technical errors had let them down.

Essendon started the 2015 well, but they have lost 10 games this season and won just five.

He said he had no problems getting his team motivated to compete, even though a run at the finals was now out of the question.

He was now aiming for consistency in the players' efforts, and for competitive performances.

The more experienced players on the team – Brendan Goddard, Michael Hurley, Brett Stanton, Dyson Heppell – were playing out of pride.

Youngsters including Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett and Ariel Steinberg, were playing "for their lives".

"This is what they've wanted to do for their whole lives, and they get to do it, I don't think it'll be that hard to motivate them."

Forward Daniher had kicked five goals straight to help the Bombers to victory over Melbourne the previous week, but against the Roos managed only two goals, two points.

Hird had been keen during the week to temper expectations of the 21-year-old, because he said tall players took a long time to mature.

"He has good games, he doesn't have as good games ... he needs to get that consistency and he will."