"So the last shall be first and the first last."

-Matthew 20:16

I'm pretty sure that Matthew had more on his mind than sport, but his words from the New Testament are an apt description of the A-League ladder three weeks into the season.

The so-called "glamour" clubs - Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart - are winless and mired in the bottom three spots, while Perth, North Queensland, Adelaide and Wellington occupy positions one through four.

I wonder whether the fine folks at FFA headquarters are frightened or fired up by this surprising scenario. Personally, I think it's great for the league.

Mind you, if this were Round 23, I'd be concerned, since you don't want the three biggest clubs in the league struggling to make the finals. But we're coming up on Round 4, and in addition to some splendid football, we're seeing some simple twists of fate that could set the A-League up for its best season to date.

Coming into 2010, the league's major concerns - other than the insane "crowd cap" at the Gold Coast - were the North Queensland and Adelaide franchises. Both were (and still are) financial worries, with the FFA essentially controlling them. How ironic then, that the two stragglers have started so well.

North Queensland is the bigger surprise, since most media geniuses (myself included) pencilled them in for the wooden spoon. Already, the Fury have scored more goals than any other team, have the scalp of Sydney FC, and have earned two stunning draws against the Victory and league-leading Perth.

Adelaide United seems to be playing a more flowing style of football under new Dutch coach Rini Coolen, and youngster Mathew Leckie has been a revelation. It's too early to call United a contender, but the future looks brighter than it did a year ago. At some point, the magic may run out, but for now, fans in both places, and Wellington too, are enjoying the ride.

The same can't be said for the big city clubs.

Melbourne Victory, the A-League's most successful team and a league leader in attendance, have started slowly, and while the absence of talismanic goalscorer Archie Thompson was always going to be a problem, few expected the Victory to be winless through three matches. The loss of young goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak to Germany could prove to be an issue, with his replacement Michael Petkovic already conceding a league-high seven goals.

The Victory have great resolve though, and a true leader in Kevin Muscat, who - when he's not stomping on mouthguards - knows what it takes to pull his club from the bottom to the top.

Sydney FC's sluggish start is also troubling. Last season's premiers lost the heart of their defence, Simon Colosimo and Clint Bolton, and defensive lapses have already cost them dearly. Losses to North Queensland and Brisbane mean this week's match with Central Coast is almost a must-win.

Melbourne Heart currently sit on the bottom of the ladder. In most cases, a brand new team (an expansion team, if you will) would be expected to bring up the rear. But Heart made some huge signings - Josip Skoko, John Aloisi, Colosimo, Bolton - and betting houses actually had them fourth favourite to win the title.

The harsh reality has been that Heart are still trying to figure out how to play the way Dutch coach John van't Schip wants them to play. In addition, their defence has been ordinary, Aloisi is yet to see the pitch and Skoko is out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Like the AFL and the NRL, the A-League season is a long one. There's plenty of time to make up ground, and conversely, plenty of time to drop back. But at the moment, the goals are flying in, the football is thrilling, and the seemingly-inverted ladder is providing even more entertainment value. Especially if you live in Townsville.