More time with his kids has been an unexpected bonus of becoming an AFL player for Geelong’s mature-aged recruit Orren Stephenson.

The 29-year-old father of three was the feel-good story of last November’s national draft when the reigning premiers surprisingly plucked him out of the VFL with their last live selection.

Helping fill the breach left by retired triple-premiership ruckman Brad Ottens has been a challenge Stephenson is only starting to come to terms with.

So has forming the bonds a ruckman needs with his decorated midfield teammates and developing confidence in his ability to make an impact.

But adjusting to a fulltime football lifestyle – after years combining his VFL career with fulltime work – has come much easier.

During his VFL days, Stephenson said football ate up any spare time his work as a telecommunications technician left.

“It certainly shows how much time, between working and then going to footy training, how much time I wasn’t at home,” Stephenson told AAP on Friday.

“It’s been a really good thing to have a bit more of that time.

“Especially with my kids at that age (between nine and 12) where they’re doing their sports and bits and pieces, I’m not really missing any of it now.”

Adjusting on field has taken longer.

After a modest return from his first two AFL games early in the season, Stephenson feels he is finding his feet after encouraging form on his return to the side to play Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in the past two rounds.

He said he had underestimated the time needed to develop a strong understanding with the Cats’ midfielders.

“It’s been a bit of a learning (curve) for me to see how they go about it a bit and try to have my input in bits and pieces,” he said.

“That hasn’t been something that just with a flick of the fingers is going to happen.”

The next test comes against Greater Western Sydney at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.

While the Giants are rank underdogs, the Cats’ aim will be as much about producing a quality performance as simply winning.

“If we play the way we know we can play, the result should look after itself,” Stephenson said.

While vastly more experienced than the Giants, the Cats’ side has a fresh look, with debutants Lincoln McCarthy and Jordan Schroder among seven team members with less than 30 AFL games.