Adelaide appeared to have sprung the first surprise in the AFL national draft when they went for Phil Davis, rather than Jackson Trengove.

The phantom drafts held that the Crows would use their first pick at No.10 to take Trengove, a 196cm talent who can play in the ruck, up forward or as a defender.

But Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell knew 12 months ago that Davis was his man.

"Six-foot-fivers from your home town who can play just about any position on the ground are hard to knock back," Rendell said.

"And (he's) really competitive.

"We were always going with Davis ... (from) about a year ago."

Rendell said Adelaide only became confident a week ago that Port Adelaide would use their pick at No.4 on Hamish Hartlett, rather than Davis.

In the meantime, Rendell had to do his homework on players such as Trengove, just in case, and he suspects that is how the talk developed.

Port Adelaide took Trengove at pick 22.

A shoulder injury meant Davis only managed four games this season in the lower levels with SANFL side North Adelaide.

But that suited Rendell, who noted that for the most part, it took Davis off the pre-draft radar.

The Crows' next selection at 28 was a familiar AFL name - Shaun McKernan, the younger brother of former North Melbourne premiership ruckman Corey.

"He's a really competitive person ... I've seen him play other positions, centre half-back, key forward," Rendell said of the young ruckman.

"He's a little bit different from the others, pretty quiet and shy, he likes to be by himself.

"He'll be a fantastic acquisition, he'll give 100 per cent all the time."

Shyness is clearly not an issue for the Crows' No.44 pick, utility Rory Sloane.

Asked about his weakness, Sloane joked: "Kryptonite".

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