Dan McStay has opened up on his free agent move from Brisbane to Collingwood last off-season.
McStay inked a five-year deal with the Magpies following 161 games with the Lions from 2014 to 2022 where he booted 138 goals.
While the key forward says he always wanted to be a one-club player with Brisbane, he changed his mind to join the Magpies after meeting with coach Craig McRae last season.
“It was a really tough decision,” McStay told SEN Sunday Crunch Time.
“It was definitely out of Brisbane and Collingwood.
“I always wanted to be a one-club player, but as soon as I met with 'Fly' (McRae) and had a meeting with him, I just felt like he really trusted what I could do for the team.
“He thought my ability would really suit the way they played and the way want to continue to play.
“So after that meeting, it was a pretty easy decision in the end.
“I’m really glad with the decision I’ve made and I feel like I’m able to have an impact on this team.”
McStay has goaled in both of his games so far for the Magpies, both of those coming in big wins against the Cats and Power.
After playing higher up the ground with the Lions, McStay is sitting deeper inside 50 for the Magpies but he says that his exact role changes week to week depending on the opposition they face.
“It kind of chops and changes,” McStay said.
“Yesterday they had some aerial power with (Aliir) Aliir down back, he was probably one of the best players on the field last week when they played Brisbane.
“It was kind of about nullifying his influence in the air, we knew if we could get it to ground that our ground-level game was going to be hard to match.
“Yesterday was different, but other weeks it might be getting more involved in scores or whatever.
“So it’s just week dependent.”
Perhaps the biggest change for McStay was moving from a club in a non-traditional football state to the biggest in the land with Collingwood.
After playing in front of 147,339 fans in his first two games in black and white, McStay says the Magpie army is like playing with a 19th man such is the support they give.
“They’re just incredible, they’re so loud,” McStay said.
“They back us in, they ride every bump and every wave with us.
“It’s definitely like having a 19th man out there with us.”
McStay and Collingwood will hope to remain unbeaten when they face Richmond at the MCG on Friday.