Jolly said the prospect of joining a young team with premiership credentials had excited him when he asked to be traded from Sydney so he and his family could return to Melbourne.

After five seasons with the Swans, which included a 2005 premiership and a career-best season this year, the 166-game big man believes he can help address one of the Magpies' Achilles heels in recent years: support for ruckman Josh Fraser.

''I think I've still got a lot left in me and I'm improving each day and each week. I've just turned 28 so I've got a few good years left in me hopefully, so I'm looking forward to it,'' Jolly said.

Jolly signed a four-year deal with the Magpies, but Fraser and Cameron Wood need not fret about their new teammate hogging the ruck. Instead, Jolly believed it was a team approach to hit-outs around the ground that suited him most.

''It's working in tandem. The way the game's going at the moment and how quick it is, it's pretty hard to ruck all over the ground the whole game. I was averaging 80 to 90 minutes last [season] so I think going into a game with two ruckmen who obviously can go hard, have a rest and have a spell is beneficial for the club and for the player.''

Jolly said he and his family relished being back home and he had enjoyed his early training at Collingwood.

''I was really impressed with their facilities ... They [have a] really young list and they're on the verge of winning a grand final, so it was more appealing for me to come here and to help out as much as I can. To see Collingwood play the past few years and see them beat Sydney every time the past few years, it was great to come to a successful club.'' AAP