Carlton recruit Joel Amartey said there was a "range of factors" that led to his decision to exercise his free agency rights and depart Sydney after nine seasons.
Amartey found himself on the outer, largely due to an achilles injury, of the Swans' senior side as they embarked on an impressive AFL finals run, which ended in the preliminary final.
The acquisition of Charlie Curnow - ironically from the Blues - forced a forward line squeeze, with Hayden McLean, Logan McDonald and Amartey vying for two spots.
The 27-year-old sought a prominent role, while the lure of returning to his home state, as well as playing alongside former Sydney players Ollie Florent and Will Hayward, were part of his decision-making process.
"I won't give them (Florent and Hayward) the satisfaction," Amartey said jokingly on SEN.
"It was a range of factors. The way Carlton finished off their season last year and the way (Josh) Fraser goes about his work I really admire, so I'm keen to work closely with him, as well as Will and Ollie and the whole forward group, and the list in general as well.
"It's all pieces of the puzzle that go into the decision. I guess I've been in Sydney for 8-9 years. The prospect of going to a new environment really excited me. That side of it really appealed to me.
"I like meeting new people and finding out new people, finding things in common. So many new faces I haven't met before in the footy world at Ikon Park."
Amartey proved his fitness from his Achilles injury late in the season, but was overlooked by Dean Cox and the Sydney coaching group, with the Swans favouring the combination of Curnow-McDonald-McLean.
"I wasn't too frustrated," he said.
"I was coming off an injury in the back end of the year so it wasn't as straightforward as not getting picked. Trying to come back, when you're out for 14 weeks, and play finals, it's pretty hard for the coaches to pick you.
"Obviously, as soon as you're healthy, you want to play. You don't want to miss finals, which I was gutted about. But it was a range of things over the last year that led to this decision. It wasn't a selection decision. It was not the case."
Amartey has been earmarked as a key forward for the Blues, who will pinch-hit in the ruck, working in tandem with Coleman Medallist Harry McKay.
The pair will produce a formidable duo inside 50, with Brodie Kemp set to play the rangy forward role alongside Hayward.
"I think my role will be pretty similar to what it was at Sydney," Amartey said.
"Being as a target inside 50 and then going into the ruck at times. I know Harry likes going through the ruck as well so it's probably something we both can do. If one of us is high (up the ground), the other can go in. Or if someone needs to be involved in the game, they can go in as the second ruck and get around the ball, get your confidence up and then come back forward and have an impact.
"My role will be to provide a target, compete hard and be a physical presence for the boys who are up forward. We have such a good group of smalls as well, so hopefully they're licking their lips."
Amartey has already locked in No.20 as his Carlton number for 2027, taking over from Elijah Hollands, who was delisted at the end of the season.
