"So many things can happen," Craig said of the season ahead as he savoured Saturday's 77-point win against the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium.
"You can argue at the moment, with our playing list, we're down pretty low for such an early part of the season. We can't afford too many more injuries because we are getting to guys who are still developing to play SANFL football."
Craig said the Crows' ability to 'keep executing under the real heat' still needed attention, although he conceded the clash with the Bulldogs had not been a 'high-pressure game'.
"We certainly have a picture in our heads of how we want to play the game, as I'm sure all clubs have," he said. "The real key to it all is the ability to execute it. Really good-quality execution makes a poor plan look good and vice-versa."
Craig praised Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod for their 'sacrificial' commitment to the team's cause.
"Simon Goodwin's playing a huge team game at the moment … (he's) prepared to sacrifice his own game," he said. "He is becoming a fantastic model. We all know Simon's highly recognised in the AFL and has been for a long period of time.
"Some of the jobs he's doing at the moment in taking a tagger and picking up someone else, from a sacrificial point of view, elevates him to another level. Simon Goodwin is an elite player."
Craig said midfielder McLeod, who played superbly across half-back against the Dogs, had been sacrificing his own game for 'a long time', and he added: "Andrew is an absolute joy to coach. He'll do anything you ask him to do."
Craig said Ricciuto (hamstring) and Thompson (groin) were 'possibilities' to return for Showdown 20 against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Saturday night.
And Craig suggested Ben Rutten would return to full-back from full-forward, where he played against the Dogs
"The (small) size of the Western Bulldogs' forward line suited that this week," he said. "Next week will be a completely different proposition.
"Ben felt he could have had four or five shots on goal but he spilled a couple of chest marks. Obviously it's slightly different playing at that end of the ground, but I thought he did a really good job. He fitted into the system and just played his part.
"Ben played a lot of football up forward as a youngster … his first game against Fremantle in Perth he kicked three goals with his first three kicks.
Of Jason Porplyzia, who kicked three goals in his AFL debut, Craig said: "Jason's biggest ability is he remains cool under pressure. The big question mark, and it's always been a point of debate with our club in recruiting Jason, has been his mobility.
"He's put a lot of work into his conditioning over the pre-season. He's not at the elite midfield end, but he's sort of at the cut-off point, the acceptable point, in that area.
"His skills are fantastic, his decision-making is fantastic. Whether he continues at that level, I don't know, but I liked what I saw today."
Of the showdown with Port, Craig said: "History suggests irrespective of where we are on the ladder, injuries, form, it's a special game and it needs to be enjoyed by the whole state - the supporters of both clubs. And I'm sure this will be exactly the same."
