Coach Brenton Sanderson has challenged his team to maintain its strong form for the rest of the season, rejecting claims a ‘dip’ in performance is inevitable.

The Crows have impressed in Sanderson’s first year at the helm, taking out the NAB Cup after a flawless pre-season campaign and winning nine of their first 11 games of the season proper to occupy second place on the AFL ladder.

Sceptics say the developing Adelaide team’s dream run must come to an end at some point, but Sanderson doesn’t subscribe to the theory.

“Geelong has been ‘up’ for five years,” Sanderson said on Wednesday.

“I’ve said to our players, ‘as much as people want to tell us there’s going to be a fall at some point, or dips in consistency - there might be small variances - but there’s no reason we can’t stay up for a long time’. We’ve seen it with other clubs and it’s just a mindset.

“We’re managing our players throughout the week and ensuring they’re fit, healthy and prepared really well for each match. There’s no reason you need to have dips in a season.”

The Crows, who snapped a three-year hoodoo in Victoria by beating Carlton at Etihad Stadium in round eight, will be aiming for another win across the border against North Melbourne on Sunday.

Graham Johncock (back) was restricted to light duties at Max Basheer Reserve on Wednesday, but will join in Thursday’s main training session and should be available for selection. The versatile veteran, who sat out last week’s clash with St Kilda, hasn’t played or trained since starting as the substitute against Fremantle prior to the bye.

Sanderson said the Crows match committee would weigh up whether Johncock was conditioned enough to come straight back into the team to play the Kangaroos.

“Graham didn’t do much today. We’ve got our main session tomorrow, which he’ll do,” he said.

“He’ll be a certain starter - for us, or for the Port Magpies. He hasn’t done anything since the Fremantle game two weeks ago apart from going for a run yesterday. We’ll see how Graham gets through the session tomorrow and weigh it up.

“Graham has played some really good roles for us this year. He’s played as a small defender, as a small forward and came on as the sub and was very good against Fremantle, kicking that great goal late in the game when we needed it.”

“We’ll get Bernie Vince back this week as well from suspension, so it’ll be a tough match committee. We’ll see how Graham gets through the session tomorrow and weigh it up.”

Reigning Club Champion Scott Thompson missed training on Wednesday because of a virus, but isn’t in any doubt for the clash with the Roos. Patrick Dangerfield was struck down with the same illness over the weekend, but has recovered and will also take his place in the team on Sunday.

Having exceeded outside expectations in the first half of the season, the Crows face the prospect of being the ‘hunted’ rather than the ‘hunter’ in the latter part of the year.

Sanderson said managing expectation would be another challenge for his team to overcome.

“We’ve got an opportunity this week where we’ll probably start as favourites,” Sanderson said.

“We’ve played our best footy when we’ve been the hunter and gone away looking for a scalp. But it doesn’t matter who we play. If we play the Crows way and establish the three or four key points we want to get out of the game, we normally go okay.

“Sides do like to take on the teams at the top of the ladder. I guess where there (near the top) at the moment, so sides will come after us. We’ll make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves.

“North Melbourne’s good is good, so we’ve got to make sure we’re ready for a really close game. They’re a harder side to beat than some people give them credit for.”

The match against North Melbourne will be skipper Nathan van Berlo’s 150^th.

“Any time your skipper plays a milestone game, I think the players should rise,” Sanderson said.

“I think VB is fantastic. I couldn’t ask anything more of him. He’s a great leader in the change rooms and is a fantastic extension of the coaching group on match day.

“I’m sure the players will lift an extra couple of per cent for the skipper.”