Good on him, he was a good player for us. I was always surprised at his stats after the game because I often walked away with the impression he didnt get much of the ball but then ended up with 25 touches with a high efficiency.

Thats where your memory gets hazy. Little give and go handballs that put team mates under pressure, helicopter kicks...

Cam Bruce was the best midfielder in the league for a period at the start of the 2004 or 2005? premiership season. We would literally die for a player of his calibre now.

It's crazy to think about how long ago that was, but I remember the beginning of that 05 season so vividly. He started unbelievably well after having a pretty decent year prior to.

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

It's as if that broken collarbone absolutely shot his confidence from that day on.

Was never able to play to that level for the rest of his career. He used to play with such arrogance and every possession he won turned to gold.

Ahhhh nostalgia...

It's crazy to think about how long ago that was, but I remember the beginning of that 05 season so vividly. He started unbelievably well after having a pretty decent year prior to.

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

It's as if that broken collarbone absolutely shot his confidence from that day on.

Was never able to play to that level for the rest of his career. He used to play with such arrogance and every possession he won turned to gold.

Ahhhh nostalgia...

For some reason I thought it was later in the season that the collarbone happened but yes that is how I remember it otherwise. Often under-rated - what could have been...

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

Exactly how I remember it, too. My rank amateur psychological assessment says it must created a decent psychological barrier, because he was never able to consistently produce like that again.

That says, he was a decent player who copped (and cops) more criticism than he deserves I think. He's probably a victim of his own form from 2000-2005.

It's crazy to think about how long ago that was, but I remember the beginning of that 05 season so vividly. He started unbelievably well after having a pretty decent year prior to.

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

It's as if that broken collarbone absolutely shot his confidence from that day on.

Was never able to play to that level for the rest of his career. He used to play with such arrogance and every possession he won turned to gold.

Ahhhh nostalgia...

yep, after that time he wasn't the same.

a bit of dennis collins about that one. caught a bad case of the yips.

That says, he was a decent player who copped (and cops) more criticism than he deserves I think. He's probably a victim of his own form from 2000-2005.

I'm certainly guilty of the perhaps unfair criticism. It just amazes me that one player can look like two different players so easily. One that has ability, and one that doesn't or had lost it. I'm coming to learn that confidence plays a bigger part in every facet of the game than I previously thought..

I'd hate to imagine what Jack Watts could be if he could tap into that confidence that is hiding behind his ego. Same goes with many young players one our side.

That will be one of Roos' challenges.

And be ego, I mean fear, insecurity etc..

Thats where your memory gets hazy. Little give and go handballs that put team mates under pressure, helicopter kicks...

Still Bruce bashing! Guess you are paranoid here. And Brucey and your namesake were great mates too.

I was a harsh critic of Cam in the past and unfairly so when he departed. I did apologise to him here when things that were happening at the club became more clearer to me. It sucks that just when one of our players is about to break into the superstar realm something bad always happens to them.

Interesting how Clarkson has surrounded himself with a lot of ex Demons. Some say he was never really one of us because he played more games with North. But it appears he has made a lot of strong bonds with Melbourne teammates.

Good luck to Cam. Who knows, he could be a future great senior coach. He is having an apprenticeship to die for with the best.

Edited October 15, 201311 yr by america de cali

I disagree, (with the exception of Yze who Biffen correctly states was not a leader, however it would have been good to not dump him so ungraciously as to lose his presence around the club) I think Bruce is a quality football brain and got the most out of himself and had we not been so stubborn on his deal, would have stayed, or at least would have been willing to walk in the door of our club. Green did the best he could in a bad situation, he may be a development coach, but many quality coaches are in development (See Gavin Brown at North), also I would have rathered see Greeny lead for another year than Gillies, Rodan, Pedersen or Byrnes enter our list. It was a bad decision.

One of the major reasons for our current predicament was our inability to correctly assess the value of our senior players. So much so now we are willing to trade the 2nd highest draft pick just to gain it! Not to mention our disastrous intake of experienced players last year. We got rid of quality people too early, didn't recognise the value of them instilling high training standards and setting the example and we are now reaping the consequences. The Junior decision was the worst, but it was part of a general philsophy that palmed off many senior players who are now seen by quality clubs to have value. It astounds me that after the past 6 years people are still defending our list management decisions. Clearly they failed!

You could say the same about Bruce. If Bruce hadn’t been so stubborn he could have stayed and thanked the club that pulled him out of the ammos and gave him his start. Most likely in place of an ageing senior player????

Name a player let go by melb that played good consistent football at another club. Melb correctly made room for the youth that was on the list. The fact that the youth didn’t measure up is a different argument. One of the things Melb has done well is ask the older players to go instead of letting them hang on for one more year when they were clearly finished. They may have been quality people but that doesn’t help them get a kick or stop there body from breaking down. Not much different to Geelong letting go JPod, Chappy Hunt etc to be able to play Smelts, Horlin-Smith, kersten etc

The great hole at melb recently has been great senior players who could lead on and off the field. We had some aging players that may have been quality people but where no longer/or never where great players and leaders or left any lasting culture at the club.

It's crazy to think about how long ago that was, but I remember the beginning of that 05 season so vividly. He started unbelievably well after having a pretty decent year prior to.

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

It's as if that broken collarbone absolutely shot his confidence from that day on.

Was never able to play to that level for the rest of his career. He used to play with such arrogance and every possession he won turned to gold.

Ahhhh nostalgia...

Over a number of seasons he developed into a quality player for us. He played every part of the ground, one week matching Richo or Hird the next into the midfield or off a wing then head up fwd to snag a few. Incredibly under-rated and sadly not liked by some fans. Hird rated him

One of his toughest opponents.

I'm certainly guilty of the perhaps unfair criticism. It just amazes me that one player can look like two different players so easily. One that has ability, and one that doesn't or had lost it. I'm coming to learn that confidence plays a bigger part in every facet of the game than I previously thought..

I'd hate to imagine what Jack Watts could be if he could tap into that confidence that is hiding behind his ego. Same goes with many young players one our side.

That will be one of Roos' challenges.

yes but I don't think its just simple confidence.

I like to divide confidence into a couple of parts IMO.

the transient low confidence or high on confidence. can change month by month, or even almost daily for some. I don't think think this destroys players games overnight.

I think the ones who lose their games through an episode of some sort, lose the fundamental 'belief in self' sort of confidence. the thing that drives them through a wall of fire to achieve their goals.

may be a bit like a boxer (tyson) once knocked out, he was never so invincible ever again. self doubt got him.

I think these confidences are different.

Over a number of seasons he developed into a quality player for us. He played every part of the ground, one week matching Richo or Hird the next into the midfield or off a wing then head up fwd to snag a few. Incredibly under-rated and sadly not liked by some fans. Hird rated him

One of his toughest opponents.

And Brad Johnson rated Bruce as his toughest opponent in his illustrious career. Praise indeed.

You could say the same about Bruce. If Bruce hadn’t been so stubborn he could have stayed and thanked the club that pulled him out of the ammos and gave him his start. Most likely in place of an ageing senior player????

Name a player let go by melb that played good consistent football at another club. Melb correctly made room for the youth that was on the list. The fact that the youth didn’t measure up is a different argument. One of the things Melb has done well is ask the older players to go instead of letting them hang on for one more year when they were clearly finished. They may have been quality people but that doesn’t help them get a kick or stop there body from breaking down. Not much different to Geelong letting go JPod, Chappy Hunt etc to be able to play Smelts, Horlin-Smith, kersten etc

The great hole at melb recently has been great senior players who could lead on and off the field. We had some aging players that may have been quality people but where no longer/or never where great players and leaders or left any lasting culture at the club.

I think Bruce has thanked the club ten times over. Remember, he was draft pick no. 68 or so. He became a favourite of mine when he and Greeny killed Carlton in that famous finals win in 2000. Not bad for a rookie. He will be a big asset to Hawthorn. I too hope that one day he will return to his beloved Demons. He showed his class when as a Hawthorn player he attended Jim Stynes funeral wearing a red and blue Melbourne tie. He was a very fair player and,correct me if I'm wrong, was never ever reported in his 240 plus games. Not many players can boast that record.

Next.......

Next.......

do you actually involve yourself in any conversations or just go in to threads and dismiss them?

do you actually involve yourself in any conversations or just go in to threads and dismiss them?

sounds like a shock jock

It's crazy to think about how long ago that was, but I remember the beginning of that 05 season so vividly. He started unbelievably well after having a pretty decent year prior to.

Round 1 against Essendon he annihilated James Hird at the G for Broady's tribute game. The next two against the doggies and cats I remember his form being unbelievable. Then came round 4 and the commentary box were speaking of Bruce's 'brownlow' form. The ball was bounced, Brucie was the first player to touch the ball, and as soon as he did, Brent Guerra smashed him to the turf and that was the end of the Cameron Bruce of those days.

It's as if that broken collarbone absolutely shot his confidence from that day on.

Was never able to play to that level for the rest of his career. He used to play with such arrogance and every possession he won turned to gold.

Ahhhh nostalgia...

Yes, 8 Brownlow votes going to Rd 4 when Guerra decided to use the Telstra Dome turf to injure the best player of the first seventh of the season in the AFL.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Bloody Guerra.