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GEELONG'S newest recruit Scott Selwood will not be able to join full pre-season training until after Christmas due to a third bout of ankle surgery.
Selwood officially joined the Cats on Monday as a restricted free agent after West Coast elected not to match the offer Geelong had made for the 25-year-old.
But while Selwood was excited to join a new club and play alongside his brother Joel, his excitement has been tempered by the fact he is having serious ankle surgery on Wednesday.
Selwood first injured his right ankle in round three, 2014 while playing for West Coast. He continued to play through pain up until round 13 that season before going in for his first surgery.
He returned to play in round 23 that year but required further surgery during the summer that severely hampered his pre-season.
Selwood said he was hopeful Wednesday's surgery, which could be another ankle reconstruction depending on what the surgeons find, would be the last but it is likely to keep him away from pre-season training until after Christmas.
"I'm hoping this is the last little bit of it and hopefully I'll have a fresh start and get ready to go," Selwood said.
"(I'll) probably be right to train early in the New Year."
While speculation had mounted throughout the season that Selwood was set to head home to Geelong, he was adamant he did not make a formal decision until recently.
"I'd been focused on the season and trying to get my ankle right," Selwood said.
"As it was we couldn't really get the ankle right so it sort of dragged out a little bit, the decision-making process as well.
"I'm pretty pumped to be here now.
"It was quite freaky. I was driving in with my brother and I said I had butterflies driving in, and 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 Eagles are seething they only received an end of second round compensation pick for losing Selwood (currently No.37).
But the new Cat did not want to weigh into that debate.
"In all honesty I don't really understand it," Selwood said.
"I love West Coast. I'd love for them to be compensated fairly, whatever that it is, but I don't really understand the whole process."
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the Cats had admired Selwood from afar for a long time and he said he was delighted to add a player of his experience into the Cats' midfield.
"With Scott's age profile as well, we think that's a really positive thing, not only for our existing leaders but our emerging players as well," Scott said.
"Paddy Dangerfield is a similar age. So we've been keeping an eye on those guys. It's been well documented that age bracket has been a little bit of a gap on our list. We're not saying we've necessarily fixed it with Scott and Paddy but it does help."
