The Western Bulldogs launched a last-ditch bid to try to hang on to Jason Tutt, but the 23-year-old had already moved on to Carlton "physically and mentally".
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New Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge met the former Ainslie forward in the lead-up to last week's AFL draft before Carlton picked him in the pre-season draft on Wednesday.
Tutt said it wasn't an easy decision to leave the Kennel, but one he thought was best for him to develop as a footballer and person.
The Canberra product was warming up on Wednesday, having spent the past three weeks training with the Blues, when the coaching staff called the playing group in to announce the news.
While Tutt had made his intentions of moving to Carlton clear, it wasn't until the Bulldogs had filled all five remaining spots on their senior list at Thursday's draft that he knew he had made it to Princes Park.
It was a nervous wait after the Dogs and Blues were unable to strike a deal during the October trade period.
"I spoke to [Beveridge] about a week ago, obviously the Bulldogs might've thought to redraft me," Tutt told Fairfax Media. "I think he'll be the right coach to go forward and I wish him and the Bulldogs all the best of luck. But I said to him that I physically and mentally have removed myself from there and going back there wouldn't have been the best thing for myself and that footy club.
"He was very respectful and I think he just wanted to have a chat and see where my head was at."
Tutt said there were a few other clubs interested in him, but he decided on Carlton after talking to coach Mick Malthouse, football operations manager Andrew McKay and recruiting manager Shane Rogers.They saw him as the perfect fit as a goal-kicking half-forward, who can also drift up onto the wing.
He was looking for more opportunity after playing just 26 games in five seasons with the Doggies. But he was also excited about getting to one of the big Victorian clubs and having the chance to regularly play in front of big crowds at the MCG.
He said working with Malthouse, who will set a new coaching games record next year, was also a factor. Tutt said he had a good relationship with former Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, who resigned in October after rumours of a rift developing with senior players.
He was part of an exodus from his old club, which included Dogs captain Ryan Griffen and Liam Jones, but Tutt was unsure of the others' reasons for leaving.
The goal sneak said he'd been given a fair go during his time at the Kennel.
"I thought the way that I played was good enough to keep my spot some weeks and I might have found myself the 23rd player or an emergency, but that's football," Tutt said.
"You've got to suck it up a bit and move on and try and play well in the VFL and put your name up for selection every week. If I was playing or thereabouts and pushing the guys that were playing in the AFL to play better then I thought I was doing my role to help the team and help everyone move forward."
Tutt said familiar faces had helped him settle in at Carlton, with Jones joining the club through the trade period, as well as players such as Cameron Wood, whom he played with at VFL club Williamstown, and Canberra-born Dennis Armfield.
He will spend the rest of the pre-season pressing his claims to play in the NAB Challenge, where he hopes to cement his spot for round one against Richmond on April 2.
"If I can play well in those games then I can't see why I won't be able to stay in the team and contribute," Tutt said. "It's up to me now to work hard and cement my spot and do the right things - game rewards will come with that."
