It was certainly not a day for big men, and Geelong's boom recruit Brad Ottens was no exception.

With torrential rain greeting players as they ran onto the ground at Manuka Oval on Sunday, the Kangaroos adapted better to the conditions before running out convincing 25-point victors over the Cats in their first round Wizard Cup match.

Ottens, an All-Australian in 2001, managed just four kicks, one mark and three handballs for the match, with coach Mark Thompson later agreeing it was a tough day for the taller players.

But it was not all bad news for the 202cm Ottens, who made it through his first major outing with the Cats unscathed.

"It wasn't ideal, I guess, but you have to adapt to those conditions and I don't think we did that today," Ottens said.

"It took us a quarter and a half to get used to the conditions and they were straight into it so it probably had a fair impact on the game."

Ottens' move to Skilled Stadium was the biggest trade of the off-season, with the Tigers receiving two first-round draft picks in return for the highly rated ruck-forward.

Many think Ottens could be the key to lifting the club from third last season and the 25-year-old agrees he has something to prove.

"I probably want to be performing pretty well so that's probably a given," he said.

"I guess I have to perform now, that's the challenge I have ahead of me."

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