Shaun McKernan says his match-up against North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein provided a steep learning curve but will ultimately make him a better player.

The Kangaroos got home by 25 points against the Bombers with Goldstein instrumental in the result.

He had 56 hit outs and gathered 27 possessions.

“The first thing Hirdy said to me after the game was ‘what did you learn from it?’,” McKernan told FIVEaa radio.

“Todd’s ability to back up after each contest and the way he works around the ground – it was hard to keep up with him at times, but I learnt more out of the game, than what I have in any other game of AFL.

“As bad as it was on the night, I’ll probably look back and think I’ve learnt a few valuable lessons from that night.”

The Bombers selected McKernan in the Rookie Draft at the end of last year. 

He’s played five senior games for the club after 34 in five seasons with Adelaide.

McKernan will shoulder significant responsibility tomorrow night as competes against Port Adelaide big men Paddy Ryder and Matthew Lobbe.

“It’s obviously a big challenge this week with Paddy being a former Essendon boy and Lobbe is a quality ruckman now as well,” he said.

“They’ve got that ability to score quickly and they like to score off turnovers, so we’ll need to be on to it.”