While some coaches shy away from bold off-season predictions, Norman wants the club to publicly aim for the top five after posting only three wins last season.

"Absolutely, I always like to bite off more than I can chew and then chew like buggery," he said.

"You've got to set a high standard because if you don't, you're never going to achieve anything."

Norman's hopes might seem overly ambitious, but Myrtleford's rise last year shows it is possible.

The Saints also finished eighth, with four wins in 2018, but then catapulted into the preliminary final.

This year's O and M competition was cancelled due to COVID-19.

North hasn't played finals since 2015 under AFL Hall of Famer Jason Akermanis.

"I like developing players, I love teaching them about football and what they can get out of themselves," Norman said.

"When I'm coaching, I actually give everything, I think it's passion or excitement or whatever it is, I just really enjoy talking football, educating players about football and watching the game.

"I'm a footy head in the way that when I'm involved in something, I'm totally involved."

It will be 20 years in 2021 since Norman left Wangaratta as one of the league's best players.

He captained West Adelaide, coached Sturt to a grand final on debut in 2009 and was Brisbane's South Australian scout in 2012.

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"I think it's a great opportunity for both North Albury and myself to have the marriage work," he said.

Norman had applied to coach Wangaratta and says there's no bad blood.

"No, no, they picked Dean Stone and he's a bloody good coach and they'll do really well under him."