Jacobs sought a trade to the club he grew up supporting during the AFL's exchange period last October.
The Blues reluctantly agreed to a trade, accepting pick Nos. 33 and 67 (used to recruit defenders Pat McCarthy and Andrew McInnes in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft) from Adelaide in exchange for the South Australian.
The former rookie wasn't guaranteed a regular game at the Blues, with fellow ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer, Robert Warnock and Shaun Hampson also competing for spots in the senior team.
However, he said a lack of opportunity was only part of the reason he decided to leave the Blues.
"Growing up, the Crows were the pinnacle and I always loved the thought of being able to come home and play in front of family and friends for the Crows," Jacobs said.
"It was such a big thing for me growing up and I always wanted to do it. There were plenty of ruckmen at Carlton and we were all young, so it wasn't like anyone was going to leave.
"Then Jon Griffin went back to Western Australia and everything just fell into place."
Jacobs' transition to his new club hasn't been as smooth as he would've hoped.
The 23-year-old was sidelined for a month prior to Christmas after injuring his hamstring at training.
He spent most of his Christmas break at West Lakes getting strength back into his legs, only to re-injure his hamstring in a running drill in February.
"I'd never done a soft-tissue injury before- I don't think I'd ever moved quick enough to do a soft-tissue injury," Jacobs said.
"I did my hammy in the last sprint at training [in February] and it was frustrating to do it again. I was only supposed to be out for a month, but I couldn't get that top speed again.
"When you first come to a new club you want to make a make a good impression …so to miss seven weeks and most of the games in the lead up to the season was frustrating.
"The good thing is that it's a long year and there's plenty of time to go."
Jacobs' first game for premiership points this season was in stark contrast to his last game in 2010.
The 203cm ruckman picked up 44 hit-outs in Carlton's elimination final loss to the Sydney Swans last season, but kicked off his 2011 campaign in the South Adelaide reserves last weekend because SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens had the bye.
He will continue his comeback with the Eagles on Friday night and could be considered for AFL selection as early as next week.
Jacobs was recruited by Adelaide with the aim of challenging for the club's number-one ruck spot.
The former rookie said he was ready to assume that role, despite having only 17 games of experience.
"I'm coming into my fifth year. I feel like I'm ready now. I've had my apprenticeship and now it's time to start string a few games together," he said.
"My ruckwork is my number-one thing…but I don't like the idea of just being touted as just a ruckman or a bloke that just gets hit-outs. I think I can contribute around the ground as well.
"I spent a lot of time training up forward over the summer too and am a lot more comfortable up there than I was one or two years ago."
Jacobs had ties at West Lakes before being traded to the Crows.
He played state junior footy with James Sellar and rookies Matthew Wright and Chris Schmidt and grew up in Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula not far from best-and-fairest winner Bernie Vince's hometown of Stansbury.
"I had a fair bit to do with Bernie growing up," the avid cricketer and fisherman said.
"In the country, everyone mixes with everyone through local sport and Bernie was always the gun sportsman in the district. It definitely helped knowing a few of the boys and I'm loving being back in Adelaide."
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
