The Crows selected Victorian small Patrick Parnell with pick four in the draft, with the versatile backman expected to slot into the club’s SANFL squad.

The 178cm 19-year-old from the Murray Bushrangers is considered an elite kick on both sides of his body with the ability to play both forward and back.

He was Adelaide’s only selection at this year’s draft, with the club passing on its other two picks.

Adelaide recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said the Crows approached the mid-season draft with a “medium to long-term view” rather than attempting to fill holes in the squad for

“We have drafted on talent and see Patrick as having the potential to develop his game and play a role for us,” Ogilvie said in a statement.

“He has been playing for the Murray Bushrangers and his kicking efficiency has been a standout in that competition, his disposal efficiency has been 86 per cent in the NAB League this season, so we look forward to him joining us.”

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide also went small at pick 13 with 176cm midfielder Jed McEntee.

The South Australian joins from Sturt Football Club in the SANFL where he won the club’s best emerging talent award and played every game last season.

The 20-year-old averaged 19.1 disposals, 5.4 tackles and 4.1 clearances a game, and is a player Port Adelaide have had their eye on since 2019 according to list manager Jason Cripps.

“While [Jed] has been playing primarily as a midfielder, he possesses speed and agility that we think would be suited in our front half,” Cripps said.

“We expect he will need some time to settle in and find his feet but we are confident he can add something to our list.”

Former Crows Tyson Stengle and Riley Knight missed out on securing an AFL lifeline at the mid-season draft.

A number of clubs secured tall depth in the draft, with Gold Coast managing to fill the position of key ruckman Jarrod Witts, who is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his ACL, with Ned Moyle.

Carlton (Alex Mirkov), Sydney (Lachlan McAndrew) and Brisbane Lions (Kalin Lane) also picked up ruckmen.

Cellar-dwellers North Melbourne bolstered their key position stocks by taking 202 cm ruck-forward Jacob Edwards from NAB League club Sandringham Dragons with the top pick in the draft.

Former high-flying St Kilda forward Matt Parker was also thrown an AFL lifeline by reigning premiers Richmond.

Parker was picked by the Tigers in Wednesday night’s AFL’s mid-season rookie draft, after being cut by the Saints at the end of 2020.

Parker has been playing in Western Australia with South Fremantle this year.

Richmond’s pick in the 2019 mid-season draft, Marlion Pickett, was also plucked from the same WAFL club and has played in the Tigers’ last two premierships.

-with AAP