The former Essendon forward was traded to the Bulldogs at the end of the trade period for pick 26 at this year's NAB AFL Draft.
The 25-year-old said that a post-season holiday with loved ones confirmed to him that he "needed a change", and that he saw his future with the Dogs.
The athletic left-footer formed a bond with McCartney at Windy Hill in 2011 when McCartney was the club's forward coach under James Hird.
"He was the one that put me in the forward line in the first place and he's very good in teaching me the roles I have to play," Crameri said of McCartney at Whitten Oval on Monday.
"I've kept in contact with him over the years and obviously (this) year he's spoken to me closely and I think he can help me a lot … He was pretty adamant that he wanted me at the Bulldogs at the start of the year."
At his first press conference as a Bulldog, Crameri said that Bombers interim coach Mark Thompson had made a last-ditch effort to retain his services.
"'Bomber' was still keen on me staying at the club (but) I just said, 'I've got my mind set on coming to the Bulldogs'," he said.
"A lot of people need a fresh start, and that's where I was trying to tell Bomber and a few of the other coaches that this is what I needed for my football, and to move forward. I think I need a fresh start with a coach that I really respect."
Crameri dismissed any suggestion the supplements scandal that engulfed the Bombers this year played any role in his decision to leave the club.
"The things (that) happened here at Essendon were blown out of proportion a fair bit – the players were fine. This was just based purely on what's best for my football and my football development," he said.
Crameri said he had no issue with the drawn out nature of negotiations between the clubs, adding that Essendon had been "fine to deal with".
After signing a contract believed to be worth $1.8 million over four years, he said the long-term financial security was also a factor, but not a significant one.
Crameri also declared that he could play for another decade at AFL level.
"I'm only 25 years old. I think I've got another 10 years in me. If I can keep improving and kicking goals in games and trying to win games for the team, I think that's important," he said.
He said he would likely play a role in attack that was similar to the one he filled at Essendon, where he played tall and small. He was also excited by McCartney's suggestions of stints in the midfield and perhaps even across half-back.
He was also optimistic about the Bulldogs' future with "a good, promising group of players".
Crameri played 57 games and kicked 96 goals in four seasons for Essendon after being snared with pick 43 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
He was the Bombers' leading goalkicker for the past three seasons with tallies of 34, 32 and 30 goals respectively.
