AN EMOTIONAL Ryan Griffen says he was burnt out and would have quit football if he hadn't orchestrated a trade away from the Western Bulldogs and joined Greater Western Sydney.

Griffen fronted the media in GWS colours for the first time on Thursday and said he had lost his love for the game due to the burden of the Bulldogs' captaincy and was close to walking away from the AFL.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RYAN GRIFFEN PRESS CONFERENCE ON GIANTS TV

"What prompted it was I just needed a fresh start," he told a packed press conference, choking back tears.

"I found myself in a hole last year and wasn't enjoying the game and if I'm not enjoying something, I don't really want to do it.

"I was thinking about retiring next year at the age of 29 and that was something I didn’t want to do.

"I'm getting a bit emotional about it, but I needed a change and the best fit was GWS."

Griffen said there was "a range of things" that he wasn't enjoying at the Bulldogs, particularly the captaincy, which he inherited from Matthew Boyd at the end of 2013.

The 28-year-old stressed leaving the Dogs had been the hardest decision he'd ever had to make, but knew it was the right one for his career.

There had also been the understanding Griffen's falling out with former Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney had been behind his decision to leave the club that drafted him back in 2004.

Griffen refused to accept any responsibility for McCartney's downfall and, when pressed, was reluctant to go into his issues with his former coach.

But his issues in red, white and blue clearly went beyond McCartney alone.

"We had meetings and certain things were said and they're confidential and I'm not going to go into them," he said.

"I don't think that's best for anyone and I'm going to move on.

"Macca added so much to my game, I was All Australian under him and he improved the defensive side of my game.

"I'm not going to lie, there were things that were frustrating about the way he coached, but there were also other sides that I had total respect for him.

"My decision wasn't based on whether Macca was going to be there or not.

"If that was the case, I'd still be at the Bulldogs."

Griffen concedes he lacked motivation and had become complacent, but is confident that won't be an issue with the Giants, where he has signed a four-year contract.

GWS coach Leon Cameron, himself a former player and assistant coach at the Bulldogs, also has no doubt Griffen's head is now in the right place.

Cameron labelled Griffen "in full flight, one of the very best players in the AFL" and is confident there was no risk in adding him to the young GWS list.

"Absolutely not. Categorically," he said.

"After spending five or six years with Ryan, I know what sort of lad he is.

"He's a quality kid. You don't want Ryan Griffen walking away from the game at 28.

"He was going through a stale patch in his life. We all go through that.

"I'm really confident Ryan will play some fantastic footy over the next four or five years for this footy club."

Griffen will understand if his former fan-base at the Bulldogs boos him when he comes up against his old side.

But he is hopeful he still left a legacy from his 10 years and 202 games at the club.

"I do. I was there for 10 years and built some really good relationships," he said.

"I've got a really good relationship with a lot of the younger boys and a lot of them messaged me and wished me luck.

"That's why it's so emotional to leave such a great club and I really do want them to succeed.

"I'm hoping in the future we can play finals against them and really have good battles.

"I feel like I've left a good legacy … and I've given so much to that footy club.

"I've given my heart and soul when I was there and that's why it was so hard to make that decision."

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RYAN GRIFFEN PRESS CONFERENCE ON GIANTS TV