A GUN quartet of South Australian draft prospects spearhead this year's NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian team after leading the state to its division one title.

With its 55-point victory over Vic Metro on Wednesday, South Australia claimed its first championship since 2014 and its third in the past six seasons.

It has been rewarded for that performance with six players in the 23-man All Australian team.

Potential No.1 pick Jack Lukosius was selected in the forward line alongside exciting goalkicker Izak Rankine and Jackson Hately, while Luke Valente won recognition in the midfield.

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Rankine's selection makes him the only two-time All Australian in this year's crop, having been also given the honour last year when he burst onto the scene for South Australia.

Defender Jez McLennan, who rose throughout the championships with impressive performances off half-back, was picked in the backline. Will Gould, who is not eligible for the draft until 2019, was also named on the bench after playing a key role for the South Australians throughout their unbeaten carnival.

The Allies also won a healthy representation in the All Australian side, with six representatives.

Kieren Briggs, who was the Allies' most valuable player and is tied to Greater Western Sydney's Academy, was deservedly named the ruckman of the side, while Jacob Koschitzke, Chayce Jones, Bailey Scott, Connor McFadyen and Mitch O'Neill also made the side.

Likely top-10 picks Bailey Smith and Ben King, and possible Western Bulldog father-son Rhylee West, were named All Australians after displaying strong consistency over the four games for Vic Metro.

Metro's rebounding backline pair Isaac Quaynor and Buku Khamis were also selected in defence.

Midfielder Sam Walsh, who claimed the Larke Medal as the best player of division one after averaging 29 disposals, was one of only two players from the winless Vic Country to make the team, alongside key defender Kyle Reid.

Vic Country's Sam Walsh took out the Larke Medal for best player. Picture: Getty Images



Walsh won the medal ahead of second-placed Lukosius, and the pair seem likely to battle it out to be the No.1 choice at November's national draft. He was also named captain of the All Australian team, with Valente the vice-captain.

Jordan Clark's impressive run off half-back throughout the series for Western Australia saw him catch the eye of All Australian selectors, with Luke English, Sydney Stack and Jeremy Sharp also in the team.

Sharp was one of three bottom-agers to make it, with Gould and O'Neill the others.

The AFL's Kevin Sheehan, Luke Power and Marcus Ashcroft, along with club recruiters Dom Milesi (Collingwood), Troy Selwood (Geelong), Luke Williams (Richmond) and Chris Liberatore (St Kilda), made up the All Australian selection committee.

2018 NAB AFL UNDER-18 ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Defenders: Jez McLennan (South Australia), Jacob Koschitzke (Allies), Isaac Quaynor (Vic Metro), Buku Khamis (Vic Metro), Kyle Reid (Vic Country), Jordan Clark (Western Australia)

Midfielders: Luke English (Western Australia), Kieren Briggs (Allies), Bailey Smith (Vic Metro), Luke Valente (South Australia), Sam Walsh (Vic Country), Chayce Jones (Allies)

Forwards: Bailey Scott (Allies), Jack Lukosius (South Australia), Jackson Hately (South Australia), Izak Rankine (South Australia), Ben King (Vic Metro), Rhylee West (Vic Metro)

Interchange: Sydney Stack (Western Australia), Connor McFadyen (Allies), Mitch O'Neill (Allies), Will Gould (South Australia), Jeremy Sharp (Western Australia)

Coach: Tony Bamford (South Australia)

Assistant coach: Lance Spaulding (Tasmania)

Captain: Sam Walsh

Vice-captain: Luke Valente

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