High-profile player manager Liam Pickering believes the Roos are “a year or two away” from challenging for a premiership.

But the former North player, who managed 22 games for the club between 1989 and 1992, said securing the coveted double chance is a realistic target.

Pickering predicts the Roos will finish fourth on the ladder at the end of the regular season.

“The expectations are you go a step further than last year but the way the competition is, I think it’s really hard to continue to improve,” Pickering told NMFC.com.au in a past player survey.

“I still think they’re another year or two away personally, so I think the expectations would be a top-four finish.”

Pickering, who also played 102 matches for Geelong, said he is confident his client Ryan Bastinac can fill the void in the midfield left by Levi Greenwood.

“He (Bastinac) didn’t have his best year last year but he’s had a good pre-season,” Pickering said.

“I think he can force his way into Greenwood’s spot on a regular basis.”

See Pickering’s answers and predictions below. Do you agree? Have your say below and we’ll let him know.

Past player survey – Pickering

1. What are your expectations of NMFC in 2015?
If they can stay in the top four, that’d be a good result for the club.

2. Who will be NMFC’s most improved player?
Ryan Bastinac

3. Will Brent Harvey play again in 2016?
Yes

4. What will the six-man forward line set-up be in round one?
Waite, Petrie, Brown, Thomas, Harvey, Wood

5. Which NMFC players are you most excited about seeing this season?
Daniel Wells, Mason Wood and Ben Brown

6. Which player(s) need to make a statement?
Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite

7. Where will NMFC finish after the home and away season?
4th

8. How many members will NMFC sign up?
45,000

9. Who is NMFC’s most important player in 2015?
Daniel Wells

10. Who will be the leading NMFC player in the following categories?
- Goals: Petrie
- Tackles: Ziebell
- Possessions: Harvey
- Marks: Thompson
- Contested possessions: Ziebell
- Clearances: Cunnington

11. Complete the following sentence: If NMFC wins the Grand Final, I will:
Finally go on the North Melbourne past players golf trip. They’ve been trying to get me to go for 20 years.