Scott Selwood arrived at Simonds Stadium on Tuesday, but it won't be until January that he takes to Simonds Stadium and joins in training with the rest of the Geelong list.
Selwood, 25, became a Cat on Monday after West Coast failed to match Geelong's bid for Selwood, who had been a restricted free agent after eight years at the Eagles. Yet on Wednesday he will go under the knife, requiring further surgery on the ankle that has troubled him for much of the past two seasons.
The midfielder said that he wasn't entirely sure how the surgery would pan out, as what is done will be dependent on what is found once the ankle is assessed, but he confirmed a reconstruction was likely.
It was his injury troubles that Selwood claimed had been his focus for most of 2015, with a call to request a move to Geelong made "only recently".
"I'd sort of been focused on the season and trying to get my ankle right," Selwood said alongside a beaming Cats coach Chris Scott on Tuesday.
"As it was we couldn't really get the ankle right so it sort of dragged out the decision making process as well."
The Eagles were furious with the AFL's decision to hand them only a second-round pick - No. 37 overall - as compensation for their vice-captain, but Selwood was playing a straight bat about the matter. "I'd love for them to be compensated fairly, whatever that is, but I don't understand the whole process, so I can't really get involved."
Scott was glad to have another player in the middle of his career join the club, after the club landed Patrick Dangerfield, also on Monday.
"We've obviously watched Scott closely for a number of years due to his association with Joel, but not only that, we've really admired the way he's gone about his business with West Coast," the coach said.
"The last couple of years have been really tough for Scott with injury, but we know he's really driven to move past and contribute to our team as best he can.
"With Scott's age profile as well, we think that's a really positive thing, not only for our existing leaders but also for our emerging players as well."
Selwood was also thrilled to be joining the club at which two of his brothers (captain Joel and administrator Troy) work. "It was quite freaky. I was driving in with my brother and I sort of said 'I had butterflies.'
"I feel like I've been drafted again for the first time. I feel like a little kid at Christmas, it's a great feeling."
The surgery means, though, that he will only train after Christmas.
"Probably right to train early in the new year."
