Bruce: the missing ingredient!!!!!

[stonecold]

Bruce back in VFL this week, interesting stat re Josh and our losses when he misses!!!!!


Related
Nine things we learned from round 11
ST KILDA forward Josh Bruce is set to return from a back injury through the VFL on Sunday.

If Bruce makes his way through training this week, the left-footer is expected to play managed minutes in Sandringham's clash with Frankston at Trevor Barker Oval.

FROM THE TWOS Who's putting their hand up?

St Kilda has not won in its past 20 games without Bruce, a record stretching back to when it beat Greater Western Sydney in round two, 2014.

Bruce, who turns 26 on Friday, has not played since the Saints' round three loss to Adelaide.

He was sidelined at training the following Thursday when he bone stress in his lower back flared up.

The former Giant had carried back soreness in the lead-up to the injury and St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was asked at the time whether there had been major concern about Bruce playing through that.

"You can imagine all those questions get asked, given his form over the last couple of weeks wasn't great," Richardson said.

"My understanding was he'd been a little bit stiff but was really comfortable that he was physically right to go. It clearly went to another level on Thursday (at training)."

Bruce has played 91 matches in his career and booted 135 goals, with four of those coming this season.

His best year came in 2015, when he booted 50 goals from 22 games, including four bags of five or more goals.

[The_Dud]

Hopefully he comes back at 100% and can hit the scoreboard regularly, some of that 2015 form would be nice!

[asiu]

if he could hold his marks , that alone would straighten us up

[shrodes]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-04/k ... gh-the-vfl

[dragit]

Fun fact: We usually lose when he plays too.

Josh Bruce
91 games - 135 goals - 33 wins

[The Fireman]

backs dont get better

[WellardSaint]

Fun fact: We usually lose when he plays too.

Josh Bruce
91 games - 135 goals - 33 wins

22 of those games got him 50 goals,
so he got 1.23 goals per game in those other games,
when he was playing very poorly.
He can't hold his marks, and he kicks poorly anytime he gets the ball.
#liability

[Beno88]

Fun fact: We usually lose when he plays too.

Josh Bruce
91 games - 135 goals - 33 wins

We usually lose when we play.

[WellardSaint]

backs dont get better

and our forwards don't get better either, except for Skunk

[SemperFidelis]

Very happy to see him fit enough to be pulling the boots on for a game.

We planned a season around him being fit and it would be nice to salvage some of that. He was plainly not right for some time before he was put out, and I think we are a better team with a fit Bruce in it.

[sunsaint]

WE need him back - theres no doubt as Mcartin needs all the help he can get
2017 it was still a 50/50 proposition wins/losses when Bruce plays - so lets hope he will come back better than that
mark everything and kick straight that will be a start - and then maybe just maybe the onballers will start addressing forward entry

[samuraisaint]

We've missed him like nobody's business. Just hope Richo stays with playing the two ruckman now. I don't want Bruce rucking again.

[desertsaint]

we're a better team structurally and in quality when he plays. just wish our small forwards were coached to be in his shadow when contesting cause the ball will be coming out more than not.

[saynta]

We've missed him like nobody's business. Just hope Richo stays with playing the two ruckman now. I don't want Bruce rucking again.

s*** no. Good thinking 99.

[parkeysainter]

We have really missed Bruce up forward since his injury. Definately a required player.

[thejiggingsaint]

The Saints are a MUCH better side for the inclusion of Josh Bruce AND Koby Stevens AND Ben Long AND Dylan Roberton AND Blake Acres.

[dragit]

The Saints are a MUCH better side for the inclusion of Josh Bruce AND Koby Stevens AND Ben Long AND Dylan Roberton AND Blake Acres.

Except when those guys were all in the side earlier in the year, we were putrid.

[Toy Saint]

Lets hope we don't play Bruce in the ruck, reckon that probably how he damaged his back. In any case he's a crap ruckman.

There was a thesis that Bruce was instructed to use 'flat hands' to ensure the ball came to ground, I hate that theory and hope like hell he marks cleanly.

[loris]

Very happy to see him fit enough to be pulling the boots on for a game.

We planned a season around him being fit and it would be nice to salvage some of that. He was plainly not right for some time before he was put out, and I think we are a better team with a fit Bruce in it.

Encore SF

[chico2001]

Agree 100% Bruce has been missed. Hopefully he can play the last 6/7 games and then have a good pre-season for 2019. This year has gone already for him basically.

[RODOS]

it's a no from me.

forward line gelled better last week than the last 10 games with bruce in the team. he has bad skills, flat hands, helicopter punts, and most of all, drags his direct opponent into what would otherwise be one on ones. membrey/paddy will be thanking their lucky stars they get another week without him falling all over them like an idiot. just keep membrey and paddy and let them gel. they will, they are. we'll be better for it

[parkeysainter]

Imagine if Bruce, Membrey and McCartin are all fit and injury free next year. We are potentially looking at 100+ goals between them.

Then chuck in Long, Gresham, Billings as the smalls. These fellas could get 50+ goals between them also.

[saintspremiers]

The Saints are a MUCH better side for the inclusion of Josh Bruce AND Koby Stevens AND Ben Long AND Dylan Roberton AND Blake Acres AND a new coach with a clue AND a new recruiter AND new assistant coaches

edited for accuracy.

[thejiggingsaint]

The Saints are a MUCH better side for the inclusion of Josh Bruce AND Koby Stevens AND Ben Long AND Dylan Roberton AND Blake Acres AND a new coach with a clue AND a new recruiter AND new assistant coaches

edited for accuracy.

[stonecold]

We've missed him like nobody's business. Just hope Richo stays with playing the two ruckman now. I don't want Bruce rucking again.

Let's hope we can find ONE decent Ruckman first, not the 'Wet Cardboard Cut Out' we have at the moment!!!!!