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ADELAIDE'S decision to allocate retired defender Sam Shaw a spot on its rookie list didn't affect the club's draft strategy, list manager Justin Reid says.

With no collective bargaining agreement in place for next season between the AFL and the AFL Players' Association, the Crows have kept the 25-year-old on their books to ensure his welfare is taken care of.

Ongoing concussion issues forced Shaw to call time on his career earlier this month after playing 24 games in seven seasons.

"With the collective bargaining agreement still not finalised, it was an administrative judgement to give him the protection from a welfare point of view," Reid said.

"It didn't have any impact on our draft strategy or rookie strategy.

"We're still going into this year with 39 (listed players) and five rookies, which is pretty much what we played with this year with Matthew Jaensch retiring and Sam Shaw not having the ability to play.

"It gives Sam the protection from a welfare point of view and the protection of the CBA going forward because it's a career-ending injury."

The Crows have 39 players on their senior list after selecting five players at the NAB AFL Draft on Friday night.

They took NSW 19-year-old Ben Davis with the 75th overall selection.

AFL.com.au understands the Sydney Swans submitted paperwork with the AFL to select Davis as a rookie-listed academy player if he made it through to the rookie draft.

Along with Shaw, the Crows selected father/son recruit Ben Jarman in the rookie draft.

They have also retained Jonathon Beech and Paul Hunter, along with Category B rookies Alex Keath and Hugh Greenwood.

"Going with 39 (listed players) gives us the flexibility with the rookies," Reid said.

"We've made a fair investment with Alex Keath, Hugh Greenwood, Jono Beech, who's won our (state league) best and fairest and Paul Hunter, they're all 24 years of age or older.

"In 2018, a bit of an assumption, but we're hearing it may become one list.

"Whether that's 44, 42 or 40, we've got to manage how the list looks in 12 months' time."