North has been the competition's buzz team since it started the off-season announcing key signings quicker than Demtel's Tim 'But wait, there's more' Shaw used to give away free steak knives.

 

The Roos bolstered their playing ranks with former St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo, their coaching team with senior assistants Leigh Tudor and Gavin Brown and their administration with former Collingwood football chief Geoff Walsh.

 

They also convinced former Geelong captain Cameron Ling to take on a part-time role next year mentoring North's leadership group.

 

Some think these off-season signings will be the catalyst that helps send North's emerging list surging up the ladder next year.

[RELATED: Goldstein in contract talks]

 

But Goldstein hasn't forgotten the Roos finished 10th in 2013.

 

He knows the Roos blew a golden opportunity this year to play in their second consecutive finals series, losing 10 games by 16 points or less, five of those by four points or less. North also lost four of those games after leading by more than five goals.

 

Speaking to AFL.com.au from North's Utah training camp, Goldstein said no one at the Roos had spoken of 2014 being their year to break into the top four.

 

"We'd be kidding ourselves if we started thinking top four or a Grand Final at this stage," Goldstein said.

 

"We've made the finals once in five years and that wasn't pretty that result (a 96-point elimination final loss to West Coast in 2012).

 

"All we can do now is get in a position to make the finals and only once we're guaranteed of that can we start thinking about other things.

 

"We've got a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to make up, so we're kidding ourselves if we listen to all the chat in the media."

 

North's 2014 finals hopes won't be helped by the possible long-term absence of skipper Andrew Swallow.

 

Swallow ruptured his left Achilles tendon in round 18 this year against Melbourne. Although Swallow is optimistic about making an early return in 2014, the Roos know they could be without him for the first half of the season.

 

Whatever happens, Goldstein is confident the Roos can cope without their captain, with Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington, in particular, ready to pick up Swallow's midfield slack.

 

"I think we covered Andrew pretty well last year and hopefully we can do the same again next year," Goldstein said.

 

"We've got a lot of depth now in inside midfielders – we've drafted a lot over the past three or four years – and 'Ziebs' and 'Cunners' look like they can step up even more next year.

 

"They've always been able to win the footy and their disposal was pretty good as well, so it was just their fitness holding them back.

 

"But I think now that they are starting to get that fitness under their belts and running out games a lot better they're going to become very hard players to stop."

 

Goldstein says North will also have to take its outside run to another level in 2014 to match it with the competition's best midfields.

 

But he is also confident the acquisition of Dal Santo through free agency last month and the possible move of Shaun Atley into the midfield will give the Roos the line-breaking run and carry they've lacked at times in recent seasons.