ADELAIDE star Scott Thompson has fired a warning shot to the rest of the competition, claiming Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker were developing into match-winning attacking weapons while Sam Jacobs was set to blossom into one of the League's premier ruckmen.

Thompson told SEN radio the two-pronged attack of Tippett and Walker was just beginning to click.

Walker was instrumental in Saturday night's NAB Cup Grand Final win against West Coast, igniting the home team when tackled Eagles' defender Will Schofield, smothered a handball from opponent Andrew Embley and then booted a supergoal from beyond 50 in the second quarter.

"Tippett is 203 (cm) or something like that and has always been a monster but Taylor Walker has got his body now to a size where he's 100kg-plus and he's learning how to use his body," Thompson said.

"If those two can gel really well they're going to be very dangerous for us.

"We'll definitely look to get the ball into them quick … we'll back them to beat either of their opponents."

Thompson also said Jacobs could become the competition's next Dean Cox.
 
While Nic Naitanui was dominant in the ruck during Saturday night's NAB Cup decider, Jacobs was able to find plenty of the ball around the ground and even drifted forward to kick the game's final goal.
 
"He (Jacobs) covers the ground well, reads the game well and he can be one of these ruckmen like a Dean Cox I think, that can be really dangerous around the ground, not only in the ruck," Thompson said.
 
"Some of his ruck work is outstanding, he's still only 23 years of age so he's still got a lot of improvement in his game as well.
 
"Over the next couple of years we're really looking forward to seeing how much he does improve."

The veteran midfielder also said youthfulness was largely behind his side's eye-catching lead-up to season 2012. The Crows have the fifth youngest list in the AFL and, at just 38, new coach Brenton Sanderson only retired from the game in 2005.

Thompson said Sanderson's age made him incredibly easy to approach.

"As far as being able to relate to a coach, he's just turned 38 … and he's not long out of the game," Thompson said.

"[He] can get on the players' level to know what they're feeling and thinking.

"We've got a really young list now and they find it really easy to approach him and talk to him."

Sanderson's influence at West Lakes has been startling. Under previous coach Neil Craig, the side was criticised for its slow ball movement, over reliance on handball and robotic game plan. But the new-look outfit has so far moved the ball predominantly by foot - and quickly too.

Several players, including Thompson, have described the new game plan as more exciting and enjoyable.

"You've seen from a number of blokes more flair in our game style - it's probably been a more attacking game style than supporters have been used to over the last couple of years," Thompson said.

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