SA’s Jack Lukosius rated as the best tall since Nick Riewoldt as Crows arm themselves with a bounty of first-round draft picks

POTENTIAL No. 1 draft pick Jack Lukosius has been described as the best tall for his age since St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt burst onto the scene 18 years ago.

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POTENTIAL No. 1 draft pick Jack Lukosius has been described as the best tall for his age since St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt burst onto the scene 18 years ago.

As the struggling Crows arm themselves with a bounty of top-20 draft picks that could set them up for a decade, AFL talent ambassador and long-time draft expert Kevin Sheehan says he has not seen a more exciting tall than Lukosius since Riewoldt dominated the AFL under-18 championships in 2000 before being drafted at No. 1 by the Saints.

“Jack’s a very special talent,’’ Sheehan told The Advertiser after Woodville-West Torrens product Lukosius kicked three goals in South Australia’s come-from-behind win against Vic Country at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to lead the championships goalkicking list with seven from two games.

Jack Lukosius has kicked seven goals from two games in the national under-18 championships. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt gets a kick away.

“One of the things that makes him so special for a start is that he can play at both ends of the ground.

“We’ve seen what he can do as a forward, that he is that Nick Riewoldt-type lead-up player.

“But he can also dominate across half-back, we’ve seen him do that at national under-16 level, and I’ve even seen him dominate on a wing.

“He can be thrown around to play just about anywhere and he’s as good a kick at under-age level for a taller guy as we’ve ever seen.

“Boys of his size (195cm) don’t normally kick the ball as well as he does. I know he missed a couple (of goals) of Sunday but his field kicking in general is quite special.

“His ability to hit the 45-degree, 45m kicks lace-out to a teammate is brilliant. Stuff like that is quite rare.

“He can make the classy, exceptional things look easy, which makes him a pretty spectacular type of player.’’

Jack Lukosius takes a big mark over Jasper Pittard and Jimmy Toumpas for the Eagles in the SANFL. Picture SARAH REED

AFL Academy member Lukosius has always been a standout junior but made headlines nationally when he kicked four goals in his SANFL league debut against eventual premier Sturt in last year’s preliminary final.

Sheehan, who rates Lukosius ahead of Sydney superstar Lance Franklin, who was drafted by Hawthorn at pick five in 2004, at the same age, said the Riewoldt clone’s marking is in the elite category and that he is very coachable.

He said he had already proved that he can step up to senior level, despite not yet maturing physically.

“Jack’s probably 8kg below his optimum weight — he will put on muscle once he is at an AFL club — so you are seeing a pretty special player unfolding,’’ Sheehan said.

Adelaide is well placed to cash in on what has been labelled a superdraft after some astute wheeling and dealing in last year’s trade period.

It currently owns selections eight, 15 (from Melbourne) and 19 (from Carlton) in this year’s draft and could add further high picks if out-of-contract stars Rory Sloane and Tom Lynch leave.

Despite heaping praise on Lukosius, Sheehan said this year’s draft is so strong that while he is favourite he has six challengers to be selected first overall.

They are Victorian talls Ben and Max King, Victorian midfielder Sam Walsh, SA small forward/midfielder Izac Rankine, Tasmanian excitement machine Tarryn Thomas and Sydney father-son utility Nick Blakey.

No Croweater has been taken at No. 1 since Carlton picked Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs, now at the Crows, in 2006.