Cameron Bruce

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,777]

Just been thinking about how impotent our forward line is at the moment. Infact this week we only have Newton, Bate and Zomer as viable targets and that reeks of another 8 goal performance V's Brisbane.

Why not trial Bruce up there for 75% game time in the next couple of games. He's capable of kicking 35 goals a year as a part time forward (see 2004), good overhead and a reasonable shot for goal.

Idea worth considering or are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Just been thinking about how impotent our forward line is at the moment. Infact this week we only have Newton, Bate and Zomer as viable targets and that reeks of another 8 goal performance V's Brisbane.

Why not trial Bruce up there for 75% game time in the next couple of games. He's capable of kicking 35 goals a year as a part time forward (see 2004), good overhead and a reasonable shot for goal.

Idea worth considering or are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?

You're gonna cop it now!!!

But seriously folks, Bruce will be needed elsewhere. ie, he'll play up forward when needed there, in defence when needed, on the wing, in the guts etc etc...

I think the pre-season is really where you give your players 4 quarters or so in a poition and let them make some mistakes... ie Sylvia in game one, then let him redeem himself in game two.

If Bruce is taken out of the backilne it'll give someone else a chance there, but will add a bit of brittleness to the line. This is true all over the ground. We have a skeleton crew of mature players... takeout our bluey winner and we seriously miss some structure. Cam might not be the most vocal leader, but he's a good player, and a smart footballer.

Putting him in the forward line might sneak a game or two, but to what end? In reailty he probably need not play a preseason game... but it'll be next year and the year fter he'll be relied on less as th kids mature and take ownership of the ground.

[beelzebub 23,313]

Bruce...as a forward.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

were not talking about the clubs greatest kick here !!!!!!!!!!!!

Think i'll pass on this idea

[AzzKikA 2,371]

BBBAAAHAAAHHAAAA!!!

Thanks Bring back i needed a good laugh. :D

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,777]

Did I mention he kicked 34 goals in 2004. 8 goals more than our leading goal kicker last year.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Cam Bruce USED to be a good kick. He had the ability to surprise, probably 2-3 years ago...

As with SO many demons... it's a big if. IF he can correct the problem, then yes he'd be useful. Actually. given the ineptitude of many of our forwards, having a bad kick would probaly make him fit right in.

[Guest petjud]

Another post about how impotent the attack is, can we possibly wait until after a couple of rounds of the real stuff without making a sweeping statement, we lose the big power forward that everybody was used to seeing for the last few years with Neeta and the Ox, and there is much wringing of hands.

One of the problems last year was actually getting it into the forwards, we are actually getting slightly better at that, if we can get it in there Miller can be relied on to get one or two a game, Wonna the same, we have Marric getting fit, Bate who has already kicked four in a game, Robbo who is getting fitter and fitter, Jetta who showed he can kick a goal, Green, PJ who is not as bad as everyone makes out, Syliva, Davey, Bruce, Dunn...it's not that we are short of people who can kick a goal........again not a Fevola or Lloyd, but then we still have the luxury of Watts and Jurrah, and there is also Zomer who at least physically resembles a power forward, what if the reason they are keeping him on the rookie list is that they can see his potential.

This season I don't see the problem is with the forwards, it is whether we can improve in getting the ball forward and accurately quickly and into the forward 50, where we will have a lot of interchangeable options, rather than one big target that can be taken out, that is why you always need two power forwards, Lucas and Lloyd, Brown and Bradshaw, Mooney and Lonergan/Hawkins, and of course Franklin/Rougjhead but even we proved you can shut them down if they are the only targets last season, that's why in the GF Buddy kept running to the pocket taking the defence with him so alternatives to kick the goals.

Let us see what Bailey comes up with for a forward setup for Rd 1 and if the delivery in that game is first class, but the forwards fail then we can say they are impotent

[the_russian 17]

Did I mention he kicked 34 goals in 2004. 8 goals more than our leading goal kicker last year.

That was almost 40 goals behind our leading goalkicker then, plus, he can't kick to save himself now, and I don't think his marking is overly strong in a contest (which he will see a lot more of if he is playing forward).

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,777]

Another post about how impotent the attack is, can we possibly wait until after a couple of rounds of the real stuff without making a sweeping statement, we lose the big power forward that everybody was used to seeing for the last few years with Neeta and the Ox, and there is much wringing of hands.

On paper it's impotent.

Miller - Leading goal kicker of 2008 with about 28

Bate - Kicks 1 bag per year

Newton - Barely kicks a goal a game

Davey - Plays more up the ground

Aussie - Good for 2 a game

Sylvia - Inconsistent

Robbo - Injured

The loss of Neitz and Robbo was surely one of the reasons we won only 3 games last year.

Bruce is a proven goal kicker and could be utilised more up forward.

[Guest petjud]

On paper it's impotent.

Miller - Leading goal kicker of 2008 with about 28

Bate - Kicks 1 bag per year

Newton - Barely kicks a goal a game

Davey - Plays more up the ground

Aussie - Good for 2 a game

Sylvia - Inconsistent

Robbo - Injured

The loss of Neitz and Robbo was surely one of the reasons we won only 3 games last year.

Bruce is a proven goal kicker and could be utilised more up forward.

...the last time I looked this was going to be a new season with everyone with a clean sheet, the coach with more players fully fit during the pre season, players with the opportunity to make a position their own, players actually having a bit of competition for places....so when i travel my waary way up the hill from downtown Collingwood to the G for the first game of the season the only thing I should expect is the same crap I saw last year...is that correct.......Miller got 28 good deliveries to him so he kicked 28, he probably got a few more that he missed.......imagine if we can have 28 accurate and fast deliveries into him a game....wow anything could happen.......Robbo is nearly back if you read another post...even if Bate only kicks one goal a game, as long as another 10 or 11 teammates do the same we are halfway to a win, coz the defence is going to be really good this year........let's start with a clean slate this year.....and as I said lets resume this thread after the first couple of games.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Cam Bruce USED to be a good kick. He had the ability to surprise, probably 2-3 years ago...

As with SO many demons... it's a big if. IF he can correct the problem, then yes he'd be useful. Actually. given the ineptitude of many of our forwards, having a bad kick would probaly make him fit right in.

Yes but how do the others improve & gain much needed experience if you don't play them there.

Short term gain = long term pain.

Give me the pain option this '09 season so I can start to smile again from 2010 & onward.

[True Believer 1]

Yes but how do the others improve & gain much needed experience if you don't play them there.

Short term gain = long term pain.

Give me the pain option this '09 season so I can start to smile again from 2010 & onward.

I don't care where he plays....just want him to get back to kicking the footy and not handballing it. He would get 1st prize for "number" of handballs ( and not all good ones either) !!

[montasaurus 0]

Bruce is a proven goal kicker and could be utilised more up forward.

Great idea have him changing with green as required. Allows for pettard and grimes to step up off half back this year