THE CALDER Cannons had three players picked in the first 14 selections at last month's NAB AFL Draft, and another five were drafted by clubs later in proceedings.

Three more prospects who had played with the club were selected at the rookie draft, meaning the Cannons produced 11 players in the overall 2014 draft pool.

For some clubs it would be considered an amazing feat, but for the Cannons it isn't too far out of the ordinary.  

The Cannons will next month celebrate their proud 20-year history in the TAC Cup by inducting the first group of players into the club's hall of fame, and naming its All Star team – the best AFL players to be drafted from the Cannons.

Although the TAC Cup under-18 competition began in 1992, the Cannons were formed in 1995, when there was a requirement for two more metropolitan teams.

The Cannons came to represent the north-west metro region of Victoria, including the areas of Moreland, Melbourne, Hume, Moonee Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mitchell and Brimbank.

The club was well positioned to succeed in identifying, developing and preparing young talent for the top level given it came into the competition later, according to present regional manager Ian Kyte.

"It had already been a great area for producing AFL players, and the club was set up three years after other clubs, so it was able to pick up the best practices from them right from the start," Kyte said.

"A lot of the people who helped set up the club are still involved in the area, and the club's been able to have new ideas come through as well."

The Cannons have been able to achieve dual aims of building an environment that sees their players drafted by AFL clubs, but also tasting premiership glory. The club has won six flags in its 20-year history, and came close to its seventh this year when it lost the Grand Final to the Oakleigh Chargers.

"The major priority of getting the players drafted means your team improves, and the better it gets, so do the players," Kyte said.

"The higher you finish, the more games the team plays late in the season, and that is really important. Players get drafted on finals performances."

Every player drafted from the Cannons onto an AFL list will be eligible for the club's All Stars line-up, which will be announced on Saturday, January 31, during the hall of fame function at the Victory Room at Etihad Stadium.

Below is AFL.com.au's attempt at picking the best team to come out of the Calder Cannons between 1995-2013 (exempting the 2014 draft crop).  

B: Jackson Trengove (Port Adelaide, 98 games) Daniel Talia (Adelaide, 76 games) Mark Johnson (Essendon/Fremantle, 208 games)
HB: James Kelly (Geelong, 256 games) Tom Lonergan (Geelong, 145 games) Darren Milburn (Geelong, 292 games)
C: Richard Douglas (Adelaide, 155 games) Dane Swan (Collingwood, 236 games) Ryan Crowley (Fremantle, 188 games)
HF: Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney Swans, 286 games) Jake Carlisle (Essendon, 68 games) Paul Chapman (Geelong/Essendon, 271 games)
F: Eddie Betts (Carlton/Adelaide, 206 games) Joe Daniher (Essendon, 26 games) David Rodan (Richmond, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, 185 games)
R: Ivan Maric (Adelaide/Richmond, 132 games) Jude Bolton (Sydney Swans, 325 games) Jason Johnson (Essendon, 184 games)
I/C: Brock McLean (Melbourne/Carlton, 157 games), Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs, 77 games) Brent Reilly  (Adelaide, 203 games) Andrew Welsh (Essendon, 162 games)