His training debut a week ago, on the other hand, barely rated a mention thanks to one Nathan Ablett.
Though it was much quieter than expected, it was the very reason Ottens opted out of Punt Road for the more secluded setting of Skilled Stadium.
With a media frenzy gathering at training at the slightest hint of a story, Ottens described the circumstances as frustrating and unenjoyable, even admitting going through the motions by season's end.
He knew it was time for a change and the stale stench at Tigerland was substituted for the fresh fragrance of the Cattery, unsure how long it would take for Terry Wallace to rebuild the ailing list.
"My contract had expired and I wasn't happy with my form and wasn't enjoying my footy as much as I would've liked and I started thinking about where my future was going,'' Ottens said.
"The guys couldn't perform and I was one of them, but the media loved to be at the Tigers when anything was happening...you couldn't get away.
"It was frustrating, I would have loved to have got back to playing good footy and being part of a successful team but I wasn't sure how far away that was going to be at Richmond.
"I made the choice that a change of atmosphere, change of club and getting out of Melbourne would be good and I'm rapt with the decision.''
Ottens, the No. 2 selection in the 1997 national draft, watched Geelong's preliminary final defeat to Brisbane from his hotel room while holidaying in Bali.
He stopped short of admitting it, but you get the sense that Ottens would love to have brought trade week forward by a month and donned the hoops that night when the Cats couldn't capitalise on 59 forward entries to 40.
"I thought they were stiff not to win it, they probably played the better football and got it inside 50 a heap more than Brisbane did and just couldn't get the score on the board,'' he said.
"It was a great effort and finals footy is what you play for so to be involved in that would've been great but hopefully there's a lot more to come.
"To be playing forward in a team that's getting it up there consistently is real exciting but I'll play a bit in the ruck and help Kingy out too.''
Ottens, who will settle in South Geelong with girlfriend Tatum, draws the comparison between the current-day Cats and the exciting Richmond team on '01 that reached the preliminary final.
It was easily Ottens' best year in the AFL, kicking 46 goals and earning All-Australian selection, and he believes the new environment should help him reproduce.
"The lifestyle down here appeals to me a fair bit and getting out of Melbourne...doesn't bother me too much,'' he said.
"The list is as good as anyone's going around and they're going to be as successful as anyone else if they keep working hard and doing the right things and it was something I'd like to be a part of.''
