MENTION the name Jimmy Toumpas to most South Australian footy fans and they'll describe his clutch running goal for Woodville West Torrens in last year's SANFL Grand Final.

The ABC "goal of the day" effort showcased Toumpas' extreme poise and class, as he ran his full distance into the attacking 50 and finished from the boundary with a deadly accurate drop punt.

It was a brilliant kick made even more extraordinary when considered Toumpas was a 17-year-old schoolboy, who took the afternoon off from studying for his year 12 exams.

As massive underdogs, Toumpas' Eagles went on to win the flag, preventing Central District from claiming its fifth consecutive premiership.

Brenton Phillips - South Australia's under-18 coach from this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships - said the goal showcased just why Toumpas is touted as a potential top three pick at this year's NAB AFL Draft.

"He probably didn’t realise how important it was at that given point in time," Phillips said.

"It just showed that he's fairly cool under immense pressure.

"He makes pretty good decisions ... so I think that's probably the stamp of a very good footballer."

The famous three-point victory was Woodville West Torrens' first premiership since 2006 and Toumpas labeled it a "surreal experience".

But the experience was far from over.

The Eagles currently sit near the bottom of the SANFL ladder, in genuine danger of becoming the first side for nearly 25 years to miss the finals following a premiership.

Toumpas said he had taken a lot from the 2011 Grand Final win, but admitted he learned more from the premiership hangover.

"It's taught me it's just not going to happen," he said.

"Last year we didn't expect to be where we were and that's why our work rate and mindset was such a massive factor towards that win.

"At the start of the year we just expected things to happen, but you need to put the work in."

The reigning premiers' alarming fall from grace drummed home the importance of work rate to the 18-year-old.

Toumpas said he prided himself on a work ethic that ensured he would have the measure of any opponent, if only by outlasting them.

Shane Crawford and Nathan Buckley both adhered to identical philosophies and were known as the fiercest of competitors, whose efforts on the field were matched only by their own off of it.

Toumpas admitted he had learned a lot from reading their autobiographies.

"Shane Crawford in particular, I remember one thing he wrote - on Christmas Day he always went for a run because he knew his opponents wouldn't be doing that," Toumpas said.

"Two or three years ago I was in Brisbane and me and Dad went out, [it was] pissing down with rain and I went out for a run because I knew no-one else would be doing it."

Phillips said he rated Toumpas - who boasts raw pace and elite skills to go with his insatiable appetite for the contest - as highly as Melbourne captain Jack Trengove, who was the second pick at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

"He's one of the better ones I've seen come through," Phillips said of Toumpas.

"I always rate Jack Trengove as fairly high, (Port Adelaide's) Chad Wingard as fairly high and Jimmy Toumpas is another one that I rate as really high in terms of how they can impact games of football.

"All three of them have the ability to impact on games of football."

While Toumpas has learned from Buckley and Crawford, his other inspirations are found much closer to home.

His parents, George and Mary, are both business owners. Toumpas' older brother Chris works at his Dad's company, while his older sister Tassie is studying teaching at university. Jimmy is also at university, with the aim of one day becoming a physiotherapist.

With Greek Cypriot heritage, Toumpas' initial sporting passion was soccer, but the stint with the round ball didn’t last long and by age six, Toumpas was hooked on the Australian game.

George wasn't well drilled on Australian football, but his advice on how to attack it held his son in fantastic stead.

"He doesn't really know too much of the game because he's grown up with soccer, but he made this point of work rate and I think that's what's driven me since probably under-12s," Toumpas said of his father.

"Work rate's been the main thing that's got me towards where I am at the moment."

Toumpas is experiencing more hard work at the moment, after hip surgery on August 3.

He experienced pain and discomfort throughout the recent NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, although by averaging more than 22 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency, it wasn't obvious.

Toumpas said it would be two weeks after the procedure before he could begin swimming and cycling, six before he could start jogging and by the three-month mark he said he'd be "fully fit".

While the surgery has introduced some doubt as to which AFL club will take him on November 24, there is no such hesitation that Toumpas will make the most whatever opportunity he is granted.

Harry Thring covers news for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.