Selected by Fremantle with pick No.10 in the 2005 national draft, Drum struggled to become a regular senior contributor in four years in WA.
And after battling away with Perth in the WAFL for much of 2009, the 22-year-old thought something had to change.
Frustrated by lack of opportunity, the youngster from Congupna, near Shepparton, crystallised his views on a trade as Freo’s season wound down.
And the Cats, aware of his ability as well as his lack of game time at the top level, were quick to pounce – securing the 191cm utility in exchange for pick 49 in next month’s NAB AFL Draft.
"My thoughts, sort of towards the end of the year, were that I’d given it all I could at Freo and I just wasn’t getting the opportunity that I wanted," Drum told geelongcats.com.au.
"I thought I needed a fresh start and a move closer to home to sort of rejuvenate me, so I could get the opportunities that I’d been looking for."
The Cats first expressed an interest in Drum post-season, making an approach to his manager. It wasn’t long before Drum left a meeting with the Geelong hierarchy convinced his future lay in his home state.
"My meeting with [Geelong recruiting manager] Stephen Wells and [football manager] Neil Balme went really well … the way they approached me and said: 'We want you to play for Geelong', it gave me a sense of feeling wanted," he said.
"I was really looking to be closer to home as well, so Geelong’s a perfect fit.
"It’s a bigger country town as such, and having known a few of the boys as well and being a strong club it was just very appealing."
Helping consolidate Drum’s view Geelong might provide an easy transition was the fact he already knew a couple of Cats.
He played state under-age football with Joel Selwood, and also knows Shannon Byrnes and Tom Hawkins from his junior days.
Throw in the fact there was also some family history at Geelong – his uncle Damian played 63 games for the club in the eight years at the Cattery – and all things pointed to Skilled Stadium.
He hopes that change of scenery will help him realise his full potential. "I’ve probably under-achieved [so far]," he said.
"I’ve played 22 games in four years … I’ve missed games with injury and form and stuff like that, but I think when I have played I’ve been pretty serviceable.
"It’s just a matter of getting that consistent run together of games which I suppose hasn’t happened over four years."
But Drum knows winning a place in the best team in the land won’t be easy.
"Obviously it all comes back to the player," he said. "I’ll work hard for it, so I’ll be going out there to train hard and earn respect off the players and the coaching staff.
"Then hopefully from there I’ll get an opportunity by my own merit. That’s the way footy works, and that’s what I’m hoping for.
"I’m really looking forward to getting involved in Geelong and learning about their history along the way – just learning from all the players on their list."
Exactly where he plays he isn’t too fussed, although it’s likely the Cats have ear-marked a spot alongside the likes of Darren Milburn and, should he play on for another year, Tom Harley.
"I’m not fazed [where I play]; I just want to be out there amongst it, but I think predominately it’ll be down in defence," he said.
"I’m not reading into it that I’m replacing anyone or anything like that … I just want to enjoy getting the experience and learning off guys who are premiership players."
Since becoming a Cat, Drum has been busy spending time with family and friends – including his Melbourne-based girlfriend.
But having had an extra month’s break on his new teammates, he is already thinking ahead to a big summer.
