Defender Phil Davis says money wasn't the sole reason for walking out on Adelaide to join new AFL entity Greater Western Sydney.

The 20-year-old key defender has become the first player to join GWS from an existing AFL club, leaving the Crows after just 18 games.

Davis refused to detail the length of his contract or the money involved.

"I am not going to lie, money is a factor," Davis told reporters on Tuesday.

"... Money was a factor but it's not everything, football is the main thing for me.

"The opportunity to start a new franchise, the challenges that come with that and everything that is involved really drew me to it."

Davis said he was unaware of any other GWS signings from existing clubs amid speculation over promising Melbourne midfielder Tom Scully.

"I have heard the rumours like everyone else ... if they are true, I'm very excited (but) they can't tell me that," he said.

Adelaide football operations manager Phil Harper said the Crows were angry about Davis' decision.

His defection follows Adelaide losing All Australian centre halfback Nathan Bock to Gold Coast last season.

"Our club is bloody disappointed that Phil has made this decision, we understand it, but we don't like it," Harper told reporters.

"When you lose a player who is 20-years-old, who we see as a future captain of our club and a rising star, it's certainly a massive loss.

"With hindsight, we don't like three-year players that you put time and effort, and you draft them as a pick 10, leaving our club.

"But welcome to the new world of AFL footy.

"Not only do these things happen but we live in now a ridiculously inflated market for AFL players."

Harper said Adelaide made a generous counter offer to Davis but still could not match the GWS deal.

"Once we found out what we were up against with Phil, we put an offer together ... that was way, way, way over any offer to a 20-game player in the history of this football club," Harper said.

"It still wasn't in the ballpark ... I don't think we as a club could have done any more to keep Phil here."

Davis was selected by the Crows with pick 10 in the 2008 national draft and made his debut last year.

He is currently sidelined after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction but said his rehabilitation was on track to perform all preseason training with GWS.

GWS enter the competition next year and are allowed to recruit a maximum of one uncontracted player from each of the other 17 clubs over the next two seasons.

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