NOT since Crows greats Mark Ricciuto and Ben Hart led the State to victory in the 1991 Teal Cup has SA football produced such a talented bunch of kids.

The team that smashed previously unbeaten Vic Metro by 55 points at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night to win SA’s first AFL under-18 division one championship in four years is stacked with talent.

Six members of the team — No. 1 draft contenders Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine, along with SA captain Luke Valente, Jackson Hately, Jez McLennan and Will Gould — were named All-Australians.

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And coach Tony Bamford, who led the Croweaters to a stunning championship victory in his first year in charge, says his side could easily have had another four All-Australians.

“When we had an All-Australian meeting I threw 10 names at the selectors but they said we couldn’t have them all in,’’ he said.

SA hasn’t had a player picked first at the AFL national draft since Carlton took Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs, now at the Crows, in 2006.

But it has two strong chances this year.

Woodville-West Torrens tall forward Lukosius is considered a once-in-a-generation player and the outright favourite.

Vic Country midfielder Sam Walsh, who won the Larke Medal as the best player in division one, is, at this stage of the season, rated as his strongest rival to be taken first overall.

But West Adelaide excitement machine Rankine is making his charge.

Speedster Rankine was spectacular in the championship-decider against Vic Metro, kicking five goals from 17 disposals and lighting up the game in the first quarter with three of SA’s first four goals.

He has been labelled by recruiters as the most talented player in a draft pool that is rated as a Superdraft at the top.

Scouts say not since 2001 when stars Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd went one, two, three has the top 12 been so exciting.

The Croweaters, who won all four of their national championship games by an average of 49 points, could have four top-12 picks with North Adelaide utility Rozee and Central District midfielder Hately also in the mix.

Norwood’s Valente and Jacob Kennerley, Central’s McLennan and Sturt’s Hugo Munn and Tom Lewis will certainly find AFL homes.

Double Blue Riley Grundy — the younger brother of star Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy — also is an intriguing proposition as a key defender.

“I’m confident that at least 12 of this group will be drafted (nationally),’’ Bamford said.

Then there is the rookie draft where a host of others could go.

andrew.capel@news.com.au