List Mgmt. What to do with Josh Bruce?

[chris_h_11]

He is worth more to us than he is on the trade table. Simple as that. If a club comes along with the great offer, then just about everyone is available. I don’t think that will happen with Brucey after almost a full season out.

 

[Yawkey way]

Bruce won't be traded unless it's a stupid offer.

Coming of virtually a wasted year through injury what are the chances of that, pretty close to zero IMO.

 

[Sadsainter]

With Josh Bruce missing the rest of the 2018 season with a broken leg and Battle, Membrey and McCartin headlining the St Kilda forward line for years to come, what will we do with Josh Bruce?

I posed a situation in the Collingwood thread regarding a possible trade to harbour a second round pick back to St Kilda involving Josh Bruce, which seems like I may be jumping the gun but is there a spot for this bloke in our best 22 anymore?

Bruce is 26 when compared to Membrey (24), McCartin (22) and Battle (19) and I struggle to see him stealing a spot from any of these blokes next season. And with teams like Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn all in pursuit of Tom Lynch with the notion that at least 2 will miss out on his service, could he be used to either gain the services of a young, fast and polished midfielder or work our way back into the second round of this year's draft?

Note: I love watching Brucey and I will miss him if we do get rid of him but it could be in the best interests of the club to get something for him now while his price is still up and key forwards are in high-demand.

Soft with average skills and not reliable

 

[WhiskySaint]

I like Bruce and have always liked what he brings to our team in terms of bringing the ball to ground and not being out marked. I think he is excellent at that role. For me though, I don't think he functions that well with the other talls. He just seems to contest our other players in the air. This could be a structure thing with our long bombing, but I see how McCartin knows when to move into the dangerous space or take his player away to give space to the other talls. McCartin is a smarter forward from this regard IMO.

Where I do think Bruce becomes the number one forward is if he plays like JRoo. If he is the only tall forward and his role is to bring the ball to ground for the smalls, I think he would be the best option. As it stands I don't think we have the quality in our smalls and I prefer the 3 tall forward line so I think Bruce plays at Sandy.

As for a trade, I agree with a few other posters in that a Top 20 pick is what I would want to move him on. Don't think it will happen, but that is his value for us.

 

[AFLOnline]

I just can’t see anyone with an early second giving it up for Bruce.

Adelaide are set for key forwards, Carlton will likely take Lukosius, Port and West Coast have better key forwards. One of the QLD clubs might but he has to want to go there. Only possible one is going back to the Giants after the Patton injury but that’s be unlikely.

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Or a club like WB trades for a 2nd rounder and takes him

 

[tomjoad]

Keep Bruce. He's needed for next year at the very least. 2019 will be another year of frustration and occasional joys (more-so than this year) I can't see an FA of headline status coming to us, and I can't see us getting back into the draft beyond a valueless pick. Delist what we can, and keep the war chest for 2020, develop the kids, and play those who have been good for us according to merit. Loosen the seatbealts folks, it's gonna be a slow ride.

 

[Jade Buddha]

Bruce won't be traded unless it's a stupid offer.

Coming of virtually a wasted year through injury what are the chances of that, pretty close to zero IMO.

Most recruiters would understand his value regardless of his injuries this year.
Think Brucey will be a keeper though

 

[Marching]

This thread is madness..
Modern game needs tall athletic forwards who can kick goals...
What’s Bruce? Tall athletic fwd with a huge tank who has proven he can put together solid SEASONS of goal kicking...
Review all of our talent taken from pick 20 on and make a case as to why we would consider this a good deal for us...
Madness...

 

[Premium]

This thread is madness..
Modern game needs tall athletic forwards who can kick goals...
What’s Bruce? Tall athletic fwd with a huge tank who has proven he can put together solid SEASONS of goal kicking...
Review all of our talent taken from pick 20 on and make a case as to why we would consider this a good deal for us...
Madness...

Correct , contracted - under valued on he for sure / he has a year from hell , will most probably not play again this year.had .

 

[St BKD]

Giving a 50 a goal season forward away for a second round pick? that’s madness.. Out of Battle, Bruce, Membrey and Mccartin, only Bruce and Membrey has proved themselves with 50+ goal seasons, so the answer is keep Bruce and play the 3 that are in form.

It's not madness at all when the way forward is McCartin, Battle and Membrey. Membrey is a better natural footballer than Bruce and the other 2 have way better futures. Bruce is average. Trade

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[tomjoad]

Screw it, this has been a difficult week on many levels. I'm going to brew some beer now and prep bottles for my wine. Good work makes for a better head space.

 

[bird_man]

Or a club like WB trades for a 2nd rounder and takes him

Dogs have plenty of kpp

 

[CaptainRisky]

With Josh Bruce missing the rest of the 2018 season with a broken leg and Battle, Membrey and McCartin headlining the St Kilda forward line for years to come, what will we do with Josh Bruce?

I posed a situation in the Collingwood thread regarding a possible trade to harbour a second round pick back to St Kilda involving Josh Bruce, which seems like I may be jumping the gun but is there a spot for this bloke in our best 22 anymore?

Bruce is 26 when compared to Membrey (24), McCartin (22) and Battle (19) and I struggle to see him stealing a spot from any of these blokes next season. And with teams like Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn all in pursuit of Tom Lynch with the notion that at least 2 will miss out on his service, could he be used to either gain the services of a young, fast and polished midfielder or work our way back into the second round of this year's draft?

Note: I love watching Brucey and I will miss him if we do get rid of him but it could be in the best interests of the club to get something for him now while his price is still up and key forwards are in high-demand.

I think you have forgotten that Paddy tends to get knocked out

 

[pebblesofsand]

I think you have forgotten that Paddy tends to get knocked out

and that Battle has played 4 games and Marshall has played 7.

So lets get rid of our best performed forward on the basis that maybe those 3 can actually perform consistently at AFL level.

That said - for the right deal I would have traded Riewoldt every year after 2010.

 

[MrFoster]

and that Battle has played 4 games and Marshall has played 7.

So lets get rid of our best performed forward on the basis that maybe those 3 can actually perform consistently at AFL level.

That said - for the right deal I would have traded Riewoldt every year after 2010.

Agree. Even though Battle is unproven, You can see he will be a gun forward, apart from speed, he has all the tools to be a 50+ forward, agile, huge tank, good mark, and above all excellent goal sense and a good set shot which is important for a forward. The worry is Paddy, people say he will improve, but after 4 years he still looks slow, has no tank, can’t get separtation on leads, is not a good mark and has an aweful shot for goal.

People have short memories, Bruce was our no. 1 forward for the last 3 years, kicking 50, 38, 36 goals. He is one of the big reasons we almost made the finals the last 2 seasons. He is a modern day forward which Mccartin will never be based on his physical limitations (no tank, slow, has diabetes). Bruce’s second efforts, pressure, rucking was the causing opponents big headaches.

Now I hope Paddy improves and becomes a good player. But trading Bruce is not the best idea, if one of the other 3 gets injuries, then we’re short again. Play the best 3 in form. Battle and Mccartin still need to prove themselves in AFL. 50+ Goal kicking forwards are precious, even a gun forward Tom Hawkins only has 55 goals in his best season and he has a great midfield supplying him these years.

So I would keep Bruce and trade both Longer, Hickey, Weller, Dunstan and anyone else who may wanted to leave e.g. Acres. Hard decisions have to be made by the season end

 

[Jade Buddha]

Might head off to training at AO today. Can anyone remember the training times?

 

[George]

Might head off to training at AO today. Can anyone remember the training times?

3:30-4:15

 

[Jade Buddha]

3:30-4:15

Cheers mate

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

wow we have no idea how to rate our players ...
just to give an indication from the last trade period

Jarman Impey
Adam Saad
Jack Watts
Nathan Wilson
Mathew Kennedy
Sam Murray

all went for a second round picks ... Bruce has more value then any of them .... the fact is Bruce has been a pivotal marketing tool for our club , he has been the face of our club for the past two years that shows he is valued at the club , he has had a stinker year with injurys and his form before then wasnt great but i highly doubt we would have that short of memories on the player Bruce is and what he brings to the team .. we aint going to toss him away for an "ok" pick

 

[BigPowerForward]

It's not madness at all when the way forward is McCartin, Battle and Membrey. Membrey is a better natural footballer than Bruce and the other 2 have way better futures. Bruce is average. Trade

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Josh Bruce looks like a pretty decent natural footballer to me

 

[mad-saint-guy]

He would be perfect for Richmond. Workhorse forward who would take pressure off Riewoldt and comfortably kick 40 in an average year for a top team. I'd trade him for their first pick and nothing worth less than that. Right now he's still our second best forward behind Membrey but he definitely doesn't fit in with Membrey, Battle and McCartin. And we obviously hope and expect the latter two improve significantly.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Stick him in a moon boot...

With our propensity for injuries, that may not be enough.

Probably need to go the full Armstrong [emoji848]

 

[Saintos The ITK]

If we ever get to see all of Long Battle Marshall Wright Geary Webster White in the same team that will be some campaigner tough campaigners right there.

 

[sunny3193]

Perhaps the trade can be like for like.

 

[Moral Decay]

Bruce is better than Paddy and more secure.

For as long as Paddy is on the list he's one head knock away from an early retirement, might never happen, might happen next week, IMO Bruce is still well ahead of Paddy, but even if he isn't and Paddy is somehow rated as the No1 big man the risk of Paddy as far as list management is concerned is too high.

We trade Bruce and Paddy is invalided out, our first choice starting forward line,

Gresham, Marshall, Long.
Membrey, Battle, Billings.

With back ups of Lonie, Wright, Goddard and Weller, all of whom people want to trade or delist, the only other possibles being Connellan and Newnes.
With Bruce, Gresham, Membrey, Billings, we have only four players of proven AFL forward line ability, the others either have potential, hope or are list cloggers.

Unless we're getting both McGoverns and Shai Bolton, or a top ten in return "The Bruce" is too important for us.