The 19-year-old will move to Geelong later this month to try to earn a spot on the Cats’ VFL list, while he has also committed to Geelong Football League club Newtown and Chilwell.

The 2011 South Warrnam-bool premiership player and best and fairest winner trained with the Geelong VFL squad last week.

“They don’t have a reserves side, so I think to get a game with them is a bit tougher because there’s only nine or 10 VFL spots,” he said.

“The rest are for the AFL seconds. If I don’t play there, I’ll play for Newtown and Chilwell.”

After a standout season with South which contributed to his selection in the VCFL under 21 side, Sully was hoping to be snapped up in November’s AFL draft or December’s rookie draft.

His name was not called out in either but the teenager was not too disappointed.

“I wasn’t expecting much,” he said. “It would have been unreal to get picked up but now it’s more motivation for me.”

Prior to Christmas, Sully spent a month training with SANFL club South Adelaide but decided to return to Victoria.

“I was pretty set on playing with them but they couldn’t really find me an apprenticeship so I didn’t want to be there without a job,” he said.

“Geelong had one lined up for me.”

The apprentice plumber said pre-season training with South Adelaide involved three skills and running sessions each week, as well as several weight sessions.

After a short break over Christmas-New Year, he was looking to ramp up his fitness again.

The young centre half-back’s decision to move to Geelong came after South president Gary Walsh set up a meeting with James Rahilly, a former Rooster who is an assistant to Cats coach Chris Scott.

Sully knew at the end of last season that he was likely to leave the Roosters.

“I think they always knew and I always knew that I would try and have a crack at a higher level,” he said. “I love the club and I’ll probably end up back there.”

The Geelong VFL coaching panel, led by head coach Matthew Knights, has a south-west flavour to it this year.

Supporting the former Essendon coach is development coach Max Rooke, a dual Geelong premiership player from Casterton, and playing assistant Dominic Gleeson, from Koroit.

With Newtown and Chilwell recruiting Brad Ottens, it will be an interesting 2012 campaign for Sully.