Toumpas was thought to have the potential to challenge Vic Country star Lachie Whitfield for the No.1 spot at this year's NAB AFL Draft with a strong finish to the season.
Whitfield, a hard-running utility with elite disposal skills on both sides of his body, has long been thought of as the prospective No.1 pick in this draft pool, but Toumpas is also a very highly regarded talent.
However, the South Australia skipper has little scope to boost to his draft credentials after suffering a hip injury that will require season-ending surgery soon after his return home to Adelaide at the conclusion of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
"I've had stiff hips for the last 18 months or so, but it hasn't really bothered me," Toumpas told AFL.com.au.
"I've been getting a bit of work done week to week to get a bit of release through my hips, but I kicked around my body against the Northern Territory and tweaked it.
"I couldn't get through the game and missed [the next match against Vic Metro], but I played last week against Western Australia and got through ok."
Toumpas will play in South Australia's final game of the national carnival on Wednesday and is hopeful of playing for SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens one last time before having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right hip with a bone spur that caused the tear also to be shaved.
The recovery period of three to four months spells the end for Toumpas' season, but he hasn't spent too much time thinking about what that might mean for him come draft day.
"My focus has been on footy and not too much on what the recruiters might think about me," he said.
"If they're impressed then I'm happy, but if they're not then that's ok."
The classy right footer impressed as a bottom age player for South Australia at last year's championships then earned rave reviews for his contribution to the Eagles' finals campaign that ended in a grand final win over local powerhouse Central Districts.
Despite the injury layoff, there's every likelihood Toumpas will hear his name called very early in proceedings on draft day, but the Henley Beach local won't allow himself to get caught up in any pre-draft hype.
"This time last year I wouldn't have thought anybody would be speaking that highly of me, so it is humbling, but I don't really think about that too much," he said.
"I know I've still got a lot of improvement to go and I don't consider myself anywhere near the likes of Lachie Whitfield, Jake Stringer or Joe Daniher.
"They're a class above me in my opinion."
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
