Delisted Adelaide midfielder Brett Turner has questioned the AFL's Mid-Season Draft system following his departure from West Lakes after just five months and no games for the Crows.

Turner, who has since returned to his former SANFL side Glenelg, was picked out of the state league by Adelaide with the fourth pick in June's Mid-Season Draft, seeing the mature-aged prospect live his AFL dream.

That dream was not only short-lived but failed to see Turner step onto an AFL field in the back end of the season, with the 26-year-old kept in the reserves despite overcoming a foot injury and impressing for the Crows' SANFL side.

Turner was among a small handful of Mid-Season Draft recruits that nominated for the intake under a six-month contract understanding, while others had requested 18-month-long deals if they were to be selected.

Fremantle's Sebit Kuek, Bomber Jye Menzie, Blues midfielder Will Hayes and Geelong forward Zane Williams also had six-month deals, with the latter duo joining Turner in being delisted after just several months in the system at their respective clubs.

Williams expressed his frustrations in spending months at Kardinia Park for no senior appearances before being delisted, having travelled from South Australia to Victoria midway through the year.

While Turner holds no grudge toward the Crows' list team, the South Australian midfielder has warned anyone looking toward the Mid-Season Draft to avoid short-term contracts.

โ€œI was led down the garden path a bit, I feel,โ€ Turner toldย News Corp.ย 

โ€œI don't blame Justin Reid or Hamish Ogilvie, I blame the idea of the system.

โ€œYou're only there for six months and then you get the flick, it's lucky I didn't go interstate, it would've been so much worse.

โ€œAnyone who asks me about the mid-season draft, do not do it unless you're nominating 18 months.

โ€œIf clubs want you bad enough, they'll get you at the end of the year.โ€

Despite being told he wasn't drafted to remain in their reserves, the club opted against naming the inside midfielder in the final month of the 2022 home and away season when their finals chances were over.

The decision was one that gave Turner some comfort, believing he'd be handed a new contract for 2023.

โ€œIt was a bit of a weight off my shoulders, to be fair,โ€ he said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Crows Head coach Matthew Nicks shakes hands with Rory Sloane of the Crows after winning the round 20 AFL match between Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

โ€œBut in the back of my mind I was thinking it means I'm getting another contract, otherwise why would they have drafted me?

"...I did everything they asked me to do and couldn't have done any more.โ€

Turner was flagged as a potential draft selection for the Crows when he was cut from the club, however Adelaide looked elsewhere in the National Draft, selecting father-son prospect Max Michalanney and midfield pair Billy Dowling and Hugh Bond.

The Crows would also hand reprieves to injured pair Paul Seedsman and Andrew McPherson through the Rookie Draft after the duo were initially not offered contracts but were promised to be re-selected.