THE Adelaide Crows are preparing to swoop on teenage sensation Jack Lukosius and will trade draft picks and even players to shift up in the draft order to get their man.

Foxfooty.com.au understands the club rates tall forward Lukosius over Izak Rankine, with both South Australian prospects among the handful of Pick 1 contenders.

A source familiar with the club’s planning said Adelaide is “desperate” to get Lukosius through the door.

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If the ladder stays the same, Adelaide will have picks 8, 13 (off Melbourne for Jake Lever), plus selections 19 and 37 (from Carlton for Bryce Gibbs).

This gives the Crows ample room to move in the trade period if they remain as keen on Lukosius as it’s believed they are now.

There are several highly rated South Australian prospects in the upcoming draft, with Connor Rozee and Jackson Hately expected to join Lukosius and Rankine in the first round.

These youngsters are even more attractive to the Crows given the their recent history of losing players to interstate clubs.

Lukosius, a 194cm key forward, was named in the All-Australian squad after a strong Under 18 Championships, averaging 15 disposals, 7.8 marks and booting nine goals.

Exciting small forward Rankine booted five goals in an eye-catching performance at Etihad Stadium, earning the 18-year-old back-to-back All-Australian honours.

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If Rory Sloane leaves as a free agent, the Crows will likely receive more first round compensation and could even trade in another selection if Mitch McGovern asks for a trade.

This could leave Adelaide with as many as five picks in the top 25, a position list manager Justin Reid could manipulate to jump up in the draft order to nab Lukosius.

The Brisbane v Carlton game on the weekend was dubbed ‘The Lukosius Cup’, but in truth experts argue the number one pick is far from a done deal more than four months out from the National Draft.

Sam Walsh and Max King are also in the mix, while Rankine’s best on ground performance last Wednesday at Etihad Stadium has him in the frame too.

But according to the man who has an intricate knowledge of the draft, Lukosius is the frontrunner to be the first named called out in late November.

“Centre half back, centre forward, either one, it wouldn’t worry him. Even has a run on a wing at times,” AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan told Foxfooty.com.au.

“He’s blessed with speed, he’s one touch in the air, reads it way ahead of other players, so he just sees it in flight and doesn’t fumble. For a player his size, his kicking is elite.

“He’s got an elite skill set.”

Foxfooty.com.au draft expert Matt Balmer ranked Lukosius at No.1 in his most recent power rankings, ahead of Victorians Max King and Sam Walsh.

Carlton currently sits 18th on the ladder and, two games behind Gold Coast in 17th, looks likely to receive the first pick in the national draft.

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