Newly crowned All Australian Daniel Talia says Adelaide has the talent to cover the retirement of veteran defender Ben Rutten next season.

Rutten played his last AFL game in Adelaide’s final round fixture against St Kilda before landing an assistant coaching role with Richmond for 2015.

One of the greatest full-backs in the history of the game, Rutten played 229 games for Adelaide and was twice a top-three finisher in the Crows Club Champion award.

Talia said he had no doubt that Adelaide’s young defensive stocks could cover the loss of the 2005 All Australian full-back.

“I’ve got real confidence in those young guys,” Talia said on FIVEaa.

“I think Kyle Hartigan, Sam Shaw and these (kind of) guys can step up. They’re the guys I’m talking about that need to step up and play a role.”

Both Hartigan (ribs/spleen) and Shaw (hamstring) experienced injury-affected seasons that restricted the pair to a combined total of just 13 AFL games.

But Talia backed the duo for a big summer ahead of the Club’s 2015 campaign.

“I hope those guys really train hard over the break,” Talia said.

“I know I’m going to be calling in and making sure they’re doing it, because we need that spot filled next year.”

Adelaide’s backline is also set to be without tall utility Andy Otten for much of the 2015 season, as the 25-year-old continues his recovery from a ruptured ACL sustained in Round 20.

Talia backed the development of young key defenders such as Sam Siggins and Jake Kelly, who both finished inside the top ten of the Club’s State League best and fairest, to step up and help fill the void.

“You’ve got to get experience,” Talia said.

“I know in my first 20 to 30 games I felt really under the pump…(but) the more games you play, the more comfortable you feel out there.

“If you get an opportunity, there’s no telling what you can do.”

Talia made his AFL debut for the Crows in 2011 and stood up admirably for the Club following the departure of key defenders Nathan Bock and Phil Davis.

Talia said it was up to the next wave of young Crows to make their mark in 2015.

“A lot of guys have played under 50 AFL games, so we’ve just got to keep adding games to guys and keep the core group together.

“With time we’re going to get better, but we’ve got to be really hungry to do that quickly.”

Talia was joined by fellow backman Brodie Smith as the only two Crows to be named in the 2014 All Australian team.

Ruckman Sam Jacobs and Crows leading goalkicker Eddie Betts were selected in the initial squad but did not make the final 22.

The 2014 Crows Club Champion, who turns 23 next month, still believes he can take his game another level next season.

“I probably haven’t got as much of the ball as I would’ve liked,” Talia said.

“That’s an area that I’m constantly working on behind the scenes.

“It’s something I can add to my game by reading the play a bit better and (taking) a few more marks.”