The 25-year-old, who made his way to the Swans via yesterday’s AFL Pre-Season Draft, told SwansTV that Sydney was the best environment for his AFL career.
“I felt Sydney was the perfect fit for me,” Tippett told SwansTV.
“It’s a great city and the team is obviously very, very successful and well-respected and I thought that was where I wanted to put myself and that was the environment I thought I could play my best football in.”
In his first interview in red and white, the forward said he was relieved to have finally arrived at the Swans after a difficult few weeks, which included the AFL Commission’s investigation into his previous contract with the Adelaide Crows.
Tippett said while the last two months have been trying, he was looking forward to starting afresh with the Swans in 2013.
“It feels like it has been a long time coming,” he said.
“It certainly wasn’t really an easy, smooth process but we got there. We took the long road but I’m very happy to be here.
“It started the day John (Longmire) and Andrew Ireland came to my place after the Grand Final and we’ve had a lot of discussions since.
“Obviously with the AFL commission and all that having to happen it’s taken its time, but I’m glad to be here, and my head is spinning on my first day here at the club.”
Amid scrutiny over the terms of Tippett’s contract with the Swans, the forward told SwansTV that no one would be putting greater pressure on his performances than himself.
Tippett said he placed the highest expectations on his own performance and that his focus is on becoming a valued member of the Sydney Swans.
“I think I put a lot of pressure on myself anyway so I don’t think anyone else’s expectations can be higher than my own,” he said.
“I feel pretty comfortable coming in (to the club). They are a terrific group from what I’ve heard and what I’ve learnt so far from being here a short time and I’m really excited about getting in and training hard and earning their trust and respect.
“I guess my job is to come into the team and play a role and to try and help this already very good side to become an even better side and I’ll be looking for ways to help them improve and I’ll be looking to get the very most out of myself.”
Tippett added that he will be working hard while he serves his 11-week ban at the beginning of the season for his involvement in the Adelaide salary cap issue.
“It’s a bit of a different lead-in obviously not being able to play until round 12,” he said.
“My initial focus will be on settling into the routine and getting to know the guys and then we’ll sit down in January with the coaching staff and the fitness staff and we’ll work out a program and I’ll be looking to be very fit and very strong by the time round 12 comes around.”
Tippett will join his new Swans teammates for the first time at this morning pre-season training session at Lakeside Oval.
The forward said he had been doing his own training on the Gold Coast, but was excited to finally join his new team on the track today.
“I’m a little bit nervous, it’s going to be exciting at the same time to meet everyone and have my first little hit out,” he said.
“I’ve been doing a bit of work at home - I’ve got a coach at home on the Gold Coast and I’ve also been training a little bit with Southport as well.”
