ARE Crows fans really jealous of Port Adelaide? Michelangelo Rucci seems to think so.

Our eminent colleague was at his mischievous best this week when he posed that question in an article that expounded all the things that Port are doing well, and all the things that have fallen their way this season.

His timing is impeccable. Sure the Crows fans would like to see their team playing well and on top of the AFL ladder, but they are not going to sell their souls for it.

The AFL wheel turns fairly quickly, and it would be wise to actually win something before you start crowing.

Yes they are winning; yes, they play an attractive style of football; yes a couple of their players are exciting to watch; and yes they are on top of the ladder, but really, who wants to be them?

After all, would George Clooney be jealous of Jack Nicholson for his two Academy Awards for best actor?

Would Anna Kournikova (no grand slams singles titles) be jealous of Serena Williams who has 17?

Would James Reyne, one of Australian music’s coolest cats, be jealous of Jimmy Barnes?

Was James Hunt ever jealous of Nicky Lauda? You get the picture? If you don’t you’re probably a Port supporter.

Michelangelo suggests that the Power is superior on the field because the team is the competition’s pacesetter; it has better players; a more entertaining game plan; a sounder football program and smarter recruiting.

Yes, Port does have some of the most exciting players in the competition, but let’s look how they got them.

Their superstars are Travis Boak, Hamish Harltett, Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines who are all in contention for all-Australian selection this year.

They were taken in the 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2012 drafts at picks 5, 4, 6, and 7 respectively. Port got those early picks because their performances in those years were atrocious, which reflected their positions at the bottom of the ladder. Are Crows fans jealous of that?

The Crows have not always been dominant, but they have always been competitive. Their worst came in Neil Craig’s last year — 2011 — when they finished 14th.

However, the compromised draft meant that the Crows first selection in the draft was not until pick 24.

Yes, Port Adelaide does have a better game plan — at the moment. The credit must go to Ken Hinkley, who surely must again be a candidate for coach of the year.

But it’s Hinkley alone, not the club, who must take the credit for being the “best man standing”, as he was never in the club’s original plans?

Additionally, the game plan is dependent on available players and the strength of the opposition. In that respect Port has been blessed this season with minimal injuries.

The recruitment of international fitness coach, Darren Burgess, has been the real coup but the Crows would justify losing that battle as sound fiscal management by not entering into an auction for his services.

After all, Burgess’s heart was at Port, having been there previously.

The smarter recruiting claim will have to stand the test of time. At the moment Port shade the Crows but Eddie Betts and Matt Crouch look pretty handy.

As for the match day experience off the field, the Crows are not lacking. Despite an average draw so far, the Crows match day experience has been superb, albeit different to Port’s.

Anyone at the Crows/Collingwood game had to be blown away by the pre-match atmosphere. However, it’s the Oval itself that can take most of the credit for that.

Port chairman, David Koch, has been a strong, charismatic, national voice for his club, but the Crows corporate appeal and sales still far outstrip Port’s.

The wooing and seducing of Foxtel’s eloquent Gerard Whateley and the raffish Mark Robinson, fun as it may be, does not ensure an enhanced marketing appeal.

Crows fans jealous? Perhaps they appreciate and are respectful of how Port has recovered from its corporate despair — but jealous? Never.

Tony Lockett is the AFL’s greatest goalkicker but is Crows legend Tony Modra jealous of him? Don’t think so.