GROWING up, young ruck prospect Ayce Cordy barracked for a team situated on the north side of the Yarra River.

Unfortunately for his new club, the Western Bulldogs, it was one located in a suburb a little closer to the city than Footscray.

"In juniors, I was a Kangaroos supporter but I've slowly moved over to the Western Bulldogs. I was a big Wayne Carey fan," Cordy recalled.

His love for the Roos clearly overshadowed his father's 124-game career for the club he officially became a player for on Monday.

Brian Cordy played 124 games for Footscray between 1981 and 1988. Ayce, 18, will now be drafted by the Bulldogs with their first selection in the November 29 NAB AFL Draft, after the club agreed to part with pick 14 in exchange for his services.

St Kilda was the club that pushed the Bulldogs into using their opening pick, after offering up selection 13 under the new father-son bidding rules.

But the Dogs' enthusiasm for height – and Cordy's remarkable agility and athleticism despite his 202cm stature – saw the club happy to trump that offer and welcome just its third father-son acquisition to Whitten Oval in its history.

"I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to getting down there and having a good pre-season," Cordy said on Monday, shortly after pulling on his first piece of official Bulldogs' merchandise – a red, white and blue polo shirt.

"As Rocket said, I have to put on a bit of weight as well, so that will be good.

"Probably in the last couple of years, I've really looked forward to getting there."

When Cordy walks into Whitten Oval in the next few days, he won't be confronted by completely unfamiliar surroundings.

Cordy was invited to train with the Dogs over summer this year. While it wasn't an extensive arrangement, Cordy said the familiarisation it provided will help him adjust.

"Realistically, it's only a week and you're just the kid on the side," he said.

"I don't think I've really got all that much of an advantage, but I have been down there and I know what's going on.

"I know a lot of the fitness staff, so that should help me a little bit in the future."

Cordy missed all but three games of his final year as a Geelong Falcon, owing to a shoulder reconstruction three months ago.

"I started the season with the AIS over in South Africa, came back, had three games with school and my shoulder copped a few knocks and it didn't feel all that stable," he said.

"Then in a ruck contest, it popped out and was pretty painful.

"I had a choice, whether or not to play on. The shoulder caused me a few problems throughout the year so I decided to have surgery in June and got it over and done with."

He is still a month away from full fitness, but is not suffering any ill effects of being out of the game for so long.

"It's been three months since my operation, and I'm feeling good," he said.