Bruce

[Pates 9,675]

This may seem like a random comment to make but the last few years i've been watching Bruce and he just looks like he's going through the motions. Sometimes he can have good days where he is the playmaker, controlling where we send the ball, but for the most part he appears take outside passes and give off hospital handpasses. He is meant to be a leader, but i don't see much in his game (apart from his gut running and endurance) that i'd like our future stars to take with them for their careers.

Given that it's Green's 200th game, i think Bruce needs to follow his long-time teammate's example and show some courage. Run back into packs, go the hard tackle, and fetch his own ball. In 2002-2005 he did these things, he wasn't a hard player but when it was his turn to go he went with full conviction, it seems all of this stopped after THAT tackle that stuffed his shoulder. For so long people have been asking more of him, why? Because he showed us he could do it. Of all the players on our list, he frustrates me the most because he is considered a leader but all too often he turns the ball over and puts our players under preasure.

If anyone should lift for Green today, it should be Bruce.

[Felix 92]

+1

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,299]

Given that it's Green's 200th game, i think Bruce needs to follow his long-time teammate's example and show some courage. Run back into packs, go the hard tackle, and fetch his own ball. In 2002-2005 he did these things, he wasn't a hard player but when it was his turn to go he went with full conviction, it seems all of this stopped after THAT tackle that stuffed his shoulder.

That is not going to happen as that it not the player that he is. I would be happy if Bruce is given the job on Swan or Shaw and blanketed them today.

[Pates 9,675]

Having not played footy competetively i can't say this with 100% confidence, but shouldn't everyone in Red & Blue be expected to go when it's their turn? That's what i admire about the Saints and the Cats. Definitely not what i've seen the last couple of years from everyone that's pulled on a Demons guernsey.

[sylvias dukes 9]

I dont understand all the bruce bashing on this website. He isn't an overly physical player but he still tackles and wins his fair share of contested footy. He was bad last week but he is surely the least of our worries, he has already established a career. I worry more about Jones, Warnock, Dunn. These kind of middle tier players are the ones that have not improved under Bailey. Compare these players to Essendons middle tier players such as Ricky Dyson, Dempsey, Winderlick, even Watson was a middle tier player when Matthew Knights took over. Same with Hawthorn with Osbourne, Bateman, Sewell, etc all improving dramatically under Clarkson. We drastically need our middle tier players to improve

[Pates 9,675]

I dont understand all the bruce bashing on this website. He isn't an overly physical player but he still tackles and wins his fair share of contested footy. He was bad last week but he is surely the least of our worries, he has already established a career. I worry more about Jones, Warnock, Dunn. These kind of middle tier players are the ones that have not improved under Bailey. Compare these players to Essendons middle tier players such as Ricky Dyson, Dempsey, Winderlick, even Watson was a middle tier player when Matthew Knights took over. Same with Hawthorn with Osbourne, Bateman, Sewell, etc all improving dramatically under Clarkson. We drastically need our middle tier players to improve

That's a fair comment, and i understand that as i do rate him as one of our best players. The middle tier certainly is our biggest concern as they will be the leaders when we are challenging for the flag, but at this point i just feel today is a day when Bruce needs to step up and show us that that player from 2005 is still in there somewhere. Junior (different players, yes) has said that he has improved to a new level since Baily has come to the club, Bruce should challenge himself to regain a skill level and commitment he had not too long ago.

[Chook 15,023]

I was watching some rugby early this morning (I mean really early) while waiting for the Collingwood Melbourne Footy Flashback and thought that a bit of rugby might help Bruce and a few other of our low-contact players to get used to physical pressure. The thing about rugby that I'd like Brucey to master is the idea that sometimes, physical contact is inevitable. One of Bruce's problems seems to be his "handball so they don't tackle me approach." I think that there is merit, as long as it's not going to cause a holding the ball decision against him, in sometimes taking a hit rather than handballing when no other option is available. Because often Bruce will create an "option" with his handball "skills" that really isn't an option at all, but rather a fobbing off of the hit that he is going to take onto another player who might be even less ready for contact than Bruce is.

Just a thought I had in my sleep-deprived mind last night.

[Inner Demon 1]

Another ordinary game from Cam. Physicality isn't his problem, it's decision making. He puts teamates under the pump chronically and misses/ignores teamates in space too often for a player of his experience.

Will run out of chances soon.

[dee-luded 2,959]

+2

[Maybe next year 170]

Seems to me that every week Bruce cops a bagging from some supporters here which is a shame. He tries his guts out every week and there are many others who don't fo the same. Did anyone else notice that in the 2nd quarter when Cloke looked like tearing MacDonald apart and driving Collingwood into a winning position, Bailey turned to Cam Bruce. Despite being stronger and taller, Bruce was able to control him - freeing up MacDOnals to gain confidence. Bruce is often asked to do the toughest job and he does it with the enthusiasam I expect of any Mebourne player.

Cam will not be in our best players today but over a season he continually is in the best.

Please leave the bashing away just for 1 week.

Go Cam. Go Dees.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Seems to me that every week Bruce cops a bagging from some supporters here which is a shame. He tries his guts out every week and there are many others who don't fo the same. Did anyone else notice that in the 2nd quarter when Cloke looked like tearing MacDonald apart and driving Collingwood into a winning position, Bailey turned to Cam Bruce. Despite being stronger and taller, Bruce was able to control him - freeing up MacDOnals to gain confidence. Bruce is often asked to do the toughest job and he does it with the enthusiasam I expect of any Mebourne player.

Cam will not be in our best players today but over a season he continually is in the best.

Please leave the bashing away just for 1 week.

Go Cam. Go Dees.

Maybe thats where he should stay, negative roles.

[Demon Tragic 0]

Here's what I noticed about Bruce today. He earns his spot, but only just. He does do some things well, but only when the heat is off. If Cam approaches a situation where there is going to be a hard physical contest and he can see a 1st or 2nd year player ahead of him in the same position, he will give it off to them.

As a senior player, he needs to take that situation on himself rather than place the burden onto a junior player with far less years of experience. He shoudl be put on notice that we excpect him not just to supply great clearing kicks, but he also needs to provide a good physical presence on the game. We have no room on our team for senior players who are soft.

[Inner Demon 1]

I'm not a Bruce basher generally. He's been one of our best throughout his whole career but lately he's lost something and all last year and again this year I've watched make shocking decision making errors that put enormous pressure on young teamates which is the exact opposite of what we need from our 2nd most senior player. I hope he gets it together but if not his spot can no longer be guaranteed.

[Allen Jakovich 516]

I'm not a Bruce basher generally. He's been one of our best throughout his whole career but lately he's lost something and all last year and again this year I've watched make shocking decision making errors that put enormous pressure on young teamates which is the exact opposite of what we need from our 2nd most senior player. I hope he gets it together but if not his spot can no longer be guaranteed.

Was very happy with Cam's game today after he was moved onto Cloke. At the start of the 2nd Cloke was tearing Joel Mac a new one and we were in danger of getting blown away. Bruce was moved onto him and kept him relatively quiet after that I thought. I agree with above poster he should continue with negating roles. He played some pearlers on Hird pre-Guerra tackle.

Also agree with you Demon Tragic. Needs to take it on himself to lead the youngsters.

[Felix 92]

... he still tackles and wins his fair share of contested footy. He was bad last week but he is surely the least of our worries, he has already established a career. I worry more about Jones...

Total stats for the last 2 games, not much is splitting the two, I must admit I do see Jones around the ball more than Bruce... I guess its the shaved head!!!

C. Bruce

Tackles 4

Disposals 42

N. Jones

Tackles 5

Disposals 37

side note

J. McKenzie

Tackles 23

Disposals 33

J. McDonald

Tackles 18

Disposals 46