Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell says as soon as Tim Milera missed out in the national draft they decided to go after him in the rookie draft.

"Straight after the national draft we told Tim Milera we'd take him with our first pick in the rookie draft, so we were hoping he would still be there [at pick No.15]," Rendell said.

"We just thought Milera was the most talented kid that didn't get picked in the national draft. He's only 174cm tall, but he's got some real talent."