Former Kangaroo Levi Greenwood says says he has settled in well in his new surrounds at the Westpac Centre, despite a few teething problems prior to Christmas due to a lingering foot complaint which he continues to manage.
Despite finishing third in North's best and fairest last season, the new Magpie says the security of being guaranteed a midfield position by Nathan Buckley was enough to convince him that a change was in order.
"I knew I was good enough for AFL level, but I always thought – when I was playing under (North Melbourne coach) Brad (Scott) – there were always going to be a couple of (poor) games and I might have been in a bit of trouble in the team," Greenwood said at the AFL’s launch of the upcoming NAB Challenge series.
"A few things might have got twisted up there, but it's fine.
"That was half the reason as to why I left because I thought there was more opportunity at the Collingwood Football Club. Whereas at North they went pretty deep and they had a few stocks there and I was always the one sitting on the edge."
Greenwood collected 10 possessions in his maiden intra-club hit-out in front of a couple of thousand people at the club's training base last Thursday night.
New recruit Levi Greenwood has joined St Kilda's Paddy McCartin to help open the #NABChallenge at the @AFL pic.twitter.com/wXDTRvnjcA
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) February 23, 2015
He says he still has a lot to learn about playing with his new teammates, which will continue when he is selected for the Magpies' first NAB Challenge clash against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on Thursday night.
However he says the foot injury will not be a limiting factor in Launceston, nor for the rest of the season.
"I didn't do a whole lot of training pre-Christmas, so I've got a good (training) block in and had a good month," Greenwood said.
"So I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm looking forward to this weekend anyway.
"It's good. I had a minor setback before Christmas and had to manage it but it's fine now. It's not giving me any grief at all."
That's a wrap from Levi's pre-season presser. Looks like footy's on the way back, judging by the skies! #gopies pic.twitter.com/xrLRBc7bab
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) February 23, 2015