WHEN Adelaide draftee Nicholas Joyce arrives at West Lakes next week, he'll be in familiar surroundings.

Joyce, 18, from Fulham Gardens, was selected by the Crows with their third selection in the NAB AFL Draft, pick No.46 overall, on Thursday night in Sydney.

Joyce has spent the past 11 months working in a junior development role at the club. 

After leaving school in year 11, Joyce applied for the position early this year, and after impressing in the interview, began in the role of community development trainee in March.

Crows recruiting manager Matt Rendell was aware of his footballing ability when his résumé arrived at the club, but didn't know enough about his personality to provide those hiring with any insight.

"When he applied for the job, they asked me about him and I said, 'As a footballer, he has a crack and I don't know too much about him outside of that'," Rendell told afc.com.au.

"They interviewed him, liked what they saw and he's been there all year.

"So, he won't have to go far when he gets here next week."

This year, Joyce was robbed of a full season for Woodville West-Torrens reserves when a dislocated shoulder - sustained in a practice match early in the year - prompted a reconstruction. 

However, the left-footed inside midfielder impressed Rendell and the Crows enough to warrant consideration on Thursday night.

"He played some really good reserves footy during the year, although he didn't get into the League team - it was pretty hard to because they were strong through the middle - but he showed us enough early in the season for us to take him," Rendell said.

Despite the pre-existing link between the player and club, Rendell didn't give anything away in the lead up to the draft when it came to Joyce's chances.

"I was hoping he was still going to be there in the 40s because I thought he'd be a great addition to our club," Rendell said.

"He's a quality kid, a really hard worker and he's as tough as teeth.

"I knew there were a couple of other clubs interested, even though he missed that second part of the year, but I don't promise anybody anything."

The Crows also selected Sam Kerridge (No.27), Mitchell Grigg (No.41) and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen (No.64) on Thursday night, and officially upgraded rookies Matthew Wright and Aiden Riley to the senior list.

Rendell said he believed all four of the players secured in the draft had the physiques to put their hand up for senior selection in their first year at the club.