When AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan called the name of Adelaide’s 16th pick in the 2018 AFL Draft, the reaction from the Victory Room at Marvel Stadium was somewhat different to the 15 players that preceded.

An audible yell of joy came upon hearing Ned McHenry’s name, which brought smiles to many in the area, but the new Crow was quick to distance himself from the noise when quizzed about it.

“It all kind of went into a bit of a blur,” McHenry told AFC Media on Thursday evening.

“I don’t think it was me, I don’t think I was yelling, but it might have been the family next to me. I think they’re all pretty excited for me to be at the Crows.”

The 18-year-old was one of two players from the Geelong Falcons taken in the first round of the draft, with overall number one pick Sam Walsh the other.

McHenry described Walsh’s selection as ‘awesome’ and admitted it relieved some of his own nerves whilst waiting for his name to be read.

“It actually relaxed me a little bit because I was able to sit back and enjoy it for him,” he said.

“It was pretty special seeing him up there. He’s been awesome for me, a real sounding board at the Falcons, hopefully I’ll be able to establish a few more of those relationships at the Crows.”

One of the relationships he is looking forward to forming is with midfielder Rory Sloane, with the pair sharing many similarities in their tenacity and work rate.

“I think it’s a bit of a cliché, but you see Rory Sloane on the track and he’s someone who I really idolised,” he said.

“The way he attacks the ball and tackles, and that’s something that I try and value in my game. But the whole playing group at Adelaide’s a really strong list so I can’t wait to meet everyone.”

McHenry takes elements of his game from a lot of other AFL players, including Sloane, but is determined to forge his own path at the top-level.

“I probably don’t want to try and compare myself too much,” McHenry said.

“I suppose I’m my own player, I want to bring my own things to the footy club so I’ll be looking to talk to different people and get craft out of them.”

Described as one of the draft’s best characters, McHenry told Fox Footy after being selected that his ‘weirdness was exaggerated’, but his bubbly and energetic personality looks certain to endear him to Crows fans.

“I suppose I am a little bit of a thinker,” he said.

“I like to think that my footy is one thing, but I can also bring an element of character to the club.

“I just can’t wait to go in and meet the boys and really looking forward to it.”