ORDER OF MERIT

They’ve only one game at the MCG this season, but the Eagles will see plenty of MCG action when it matters most. Wellappointed, non-Victorian teams are able to maintain their winning momentum for longer periods than their Vic counterparts. The premiers have plenty left in them. They still have Dean Cox, clearly the best ruckman in the league, and, of course, the phenomenal Chris Judd. The fact that players the calibre of Ashley Sampi can sit out a winning grand final demonstrates the Weagles’ talent surplus. If anything conspires to erode their status as the No. 1 team, it’ll be those social problems. They seem to have all the habits that precede a fall but, for the time being, they’re strong enough to lurch along in their social dysfunction. Expect them to be up there one last time.

The thing about the Crows is that apart from having a good mix of experienced and brilliant old hands, like Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod, Graham Johncock, Simon Goodwin and Brett “Birdman” Burton, and talented and fastmaturing youngsters such as Chris Knights, Ivan Maric, Richard Douglas and Jason Porplyzia, they’re also a very well-coached team. Neil Craig reminds of Sheedy sans the eccentricities. Whereas Sheedy went outside the game for influences, made capricious selections, or instigated wacky match-day moves because he was, apparently, half-mad, Craig is of the next generation for whom such innovation is simply good sense. He’s dangerous, and so is his team. They’re favoured by a draw that sees them play all of last year’s top four teams only once, except Fremantle. They won’t have Rhett Biglands or Trent Hentschel this year, as both are recovering from crippling injuries, but they’ll still be hard to beat.

The inexplicable but engaging Spider Everitt finally ended all the intrigue and did what he’d been wanting to do for ages – move to Sydney. And who could’ve blamed him for wanting to get out of Hawthorn? Over the years, he’s made some poor career choices and has played in more losing than winning sides. No doubt the Bondi sands have already been disturbed more than once by his size eighteens. As for Sydney, last season they showed that they are indeed a great side, not a one-hit wonder. It’s always hard to tell whether Spider’s a boon to a side, despite his obvious ability. Still, they’re well led and beautifully coached, and there’s no good reason why they should slide just yet.

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