New Collingwood recruit Darren Jolly believes he can build on his great form of 2009 but says his preference would be to share the rucking duties at his new AFL club.

Jolly said the prospect of joining a young team with premiership credentials had excited him when he requested 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 medal and a career-best season in 2009, the 166-game big man believes he can help address one of the Magpies' achilles in recent years, support for ruckman Josh Fraser.

"This year probably was my best year and I really enjoyed it and I'm quite excited about where it's going," Jolly said on Tuesday.

"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 signed a four-year deal with the Magpies, but the likes of Fraser and Cameron Wood need not fret about their new teammate wanting to hog the ruck.

Instead Jolly believed it was a team approach to taking hit-outs around the ground that suited him most.

"It's working in tandem," he said.

"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 was relishing being back home and that he had enjoyed his early training at Collingwood, after building up a favourable impression of the club.

"I was really impressed with their facilities and the way they went about things," he said.

"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.

"They're really, really close and hopefully I bring something to the team, play my role and get them over the line."

Meanwhile, Sydney have signed former Port Adelaide and Hawthorn premiership player Stuart Dew as a development coach for 2010.

Dew played 180 games for the Power and played in the club's 2004 premiership side and retired at the end of 2006.

But he returned to the game in 2008 with the Hawks and played in their flag side that season before retiring for good in 2009.

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