Josh Bruce - Contract watch

[Con Gorozidis]

We need to stitch this up asap because I can strongly predict that Carlton will throw the kitchen sink at him. They are desperate for a fwd and will have the cash, early draft pick and clout to do something about it.

[howlinwolf]

I agree Con.
I don't think we can afford to lose Bruce.
At the moment he is our most mobile forward target. Takes a great contested mark and commands a decent defender. Good kick at goal.
Paddy is a few years off imo.
In any case Bruce will be a great CHF when Paddy is flying.
I'd hope the club is fully aware of all of this.

[Sainternist]

I doubt he'll be going anywhere. If his market value goes up, we'll still be able to persuade him to renew his contract by offering him a healthy sum.

Remember, with Carlisle not playing, we have a nice little surplus in our salary cap.

[saintbrat]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2016-03-29/bruce-at-home

The emergence of Josh Bruce last year was one of the more captivating stories from a St Kilda perspective, and on the back of his breakout season inside 50, the spearhead says he has found a long-term home, both in terms of position and club.

The 23-year-old produced a stunning 2015, booting 50.24 to become the first Saint other than Nick Riewoldt and Stephen Milne to post a half century since Fraser Gehrig reached the mark in 2007.

After spending his formative seasons plying his trade at the other end of the ground, firstly at Greater Western Sydney before crossing to St Kilda at the end of 2012, Bruce returned to a role last year he grew up playing, producing a masterful season in attack that even surprised the man himself.

Become a 3 Game Plus member & watch Rooey's 300th in Round 2

“I feel like I’ve found a position where I belong and the club. I’m looking forward to staying there for as long as the club needs me to.” Bruce told foxsports.com.au over the weekend.

“I always thought I had the ability and I always backed myself, but for me to be able to do it on a consistent basis over a full season — even though I did trail away a little bit late in the year — did surprise me a little bit I guess.”

Three five-goal hauls and a bag of six against Gold Coast paved the way to a 37-goal tally midway through the year, before teams went to work on Bruce on the back nine.

[Con Gorozidis]

Kind of hoping we sign him as early as we can this year. Will be a great morale booster for the club and the players.
If him and Paddy start playing together I think the fans will really get on board.

[loris]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2016-03-29/bruce-at-home

The emergence of Josh Bruce last year was one of the more captivating stories from a St Kilda perspective, and on the back of his breakout season inside 50, the spearhead says he has found a long-term home, both in terms of position and club.

The 23-year-old produced a stunning 2015, booting 50.24 to become the first Saint other than Nick Riewoldt and Stephen Milne to post a half century since Fraser Gehrig reached the mark in 2007.

After spending his formative seasons plying his trade at the other end of the ground, firstly at Greater Western Sydney before crossing to St Kilda at the end of 2012, Bruce returned to a role last year he grew up playing, producing a masterful season in attack that even surprised the man himself.

Become a 3 Game Plus member & watch Rooey's 300th in Round 2

“I feel like I’ve found a position where I belong and the club. I’m looking forward to staying there for as long as the club needs me to.” Bruce told foxsports.com.au over the weekend.

“I always thought I had the ability and I always backed myself, but for me to be able to do it on a consistent basis over a full season — even though I did trail away a little bit late in the year — did surprise me a little bit I guess.”

Three five-goal hauls and a bag of six against Gold Coast paved the way to a 37-goal tally midway through the year, before teams went to work on Bruce on the back nine.

That article sounds positive for him wanting to renew his contract. I liked that he has taken 'Paddy, under his wing'. Hopefully he can build Paddy's tank up to have the endurance that he has eh?

[bigcarl]

I'm sure we'll look after him if he looks after us with a good season and lots of goals

[True Blue Sainter]

Why would Carlton go after him??

Don't they have Levi Casboult??

[saintbrat]

Pssst in yesterdays paper suggests the ' contract signature' is close- next few weeks.


could I suggest they want to get all the ' special ' games out of the way and save some' good news for the weeks after that...

[dragit]

How good is he going to be? Still early in his career… but has really fallen away since his enormous first half of last season.

16 goals from his last 11 games wouldn't win you a huge contract normally.

[matrix]

Yeah 50 goals, but, and this is a nit picky but.....i hate the kicking action
35 to 40 out its being guided thru, and yeah it works most of the time, but id like to see a follow thru.

ALL the very good goal kicking fff's followed thru

Apart from gtrain




Miss the big gtrain

[loris]

Pssst in yesterdays paper suggests the ' contract signature' is close- next few weeks.


could I suggest they want to get all the ' special ' games out of the way and save some' good news for the weeks after that...

Yes I agree Bratty. I said exactly the same thing in another post earlier this week. I think after the 1966 celebration game, the Saints will hit the headlines a week or so after with Bruce contract extension. It's all about keeping Saints front & centre in media with positive news to get some more supporters to take out membership.

Winning a few games would help also eh???

[jaxons]

Everyone can rest easy here for the next 4 years.

[kosifantutti]

Thanks Jaxons. I'll continue to panic though until I see the official announcement.

[jaxons]

Thanks Jaxons. I'll continue to panic though until I see the official announcement.

Trust me kosifan you can stop panicking and relax.

[Dr Spaceman]

Thanks Jaxons. I'll continue to panic though until I see the official announcement.

Trust me kosifan you can stop panicking and relax.

Panicking is so underrated.

[mr six o'clock]

He would want to re sign .
he hasn't been setting the world on fire .has only averaged 1 goal a game from his last 10 games. With form like that if he was to wait until the end of the season, his manager may not be fielding to many offers from Other clubs .

[Dr Spaceman]

He would want to re sign .
he hasn't been setting the world on fire .has only averaged 1 goal a game from his last 10 games. With form like that if he was to wait until the end of the season, his manager may not be fielding to many offers from Other clubs .

Well once he's signed we can stop throwing the poor bastard into the ruck, and we will have locked up a star forward for a bargain price

[Impatient Sainter]

Hopefully this will be a load off his mind and he can recapture some of last years early season form.

He is a solid player but I think teams have worked out that if you dont give him a clear run in marking contests he doesnt have a lot of other strengths. For a big guy he needs to get better and more dynamic in his one on one body contests. That said I am more than happy he has committed to the Saints long term he has a big future!

[kosifantutti]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/s ... o1pmw.html

St Kilda are close to announcing that they have re-signed forward Josh Bruce.
It's understood that Bruce, whose contract with the Saints expires at season's end, is almost certain to agree to new terms by the end of the month.

[Bluthy]

Wow. That will be great news. I'll hold my excitement for the official announcement. I love yelling out "Bruuuuuuce" when he takes a screamer.

[Playon]

Everyone can rest easy here for the next 4 years.

Excellent so now we don't have to panic again until were playing finals in 3 years time

[Griggsy]

^^ club probs Holding back for the announcement to keep the streak occasions coming. Joeys 250, Roos 300, 66 anniversary and Harvey induction, Bruce signing then after that paddy kicks 10, and after that we win by 100, after that freeman debuts with 25 disp and 3 goals. ..one can dream, membership would rocket.

[bigred]

Quite likely they are padding out the spin.

[The Fireman]

our cap atm should allow us to retain who we want to. It's up to the club to make the players "want" to stay.