Proactive Poaching

[Bumper Bulldogs]

It makes no sense to spend two years blooding two kids as tall forwards only to bring in an older guy to replace one of them. Do they want the option of swinging Naughton back?

There is no way we can run with 3 tall forwards unless we change our entire defensive strategy.

Couldn’t agree more. I would rather play with Collingwood and snatch Moore from under their nose. We don’t need Bruce and I wouldn’t want to get Josh or Aaron off side. That said if Naughton hates the forward line. I’m in

[dog town]

Wasn’t Bruce a backman originally ?

Yep until late in his first year at the saints.

[ledge]

Might be a back up ruck , backman and forward depending on opposition and games panning out , in the old days I guess it was called a utility.

[Grantysghost]

Useless trivia he made his debut v us in rd 5 2012 (GWS v Dogs Manuka). We won by 42 points, Josh kicked a goal he was named at CHB.

[Rocket Science]

Western Bulldogs set to poach St Kilda forward Josh Bruce

Josh Bruce is set to partner Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache in the Western Bulldogs’ attack next season unless St Kilda makes a late play to keep the popular goalkicker.

The Western Bulldogs are on the verge of poaching St Kilda forward Josh Bruce with a lucrative multi-year deal.

The Bulldogs have made a strong play for the versatile big man and are preparing to table an offer he cannot refuse in next month’s trade period.

Bruce, 27, is contracted for one more season at Moorabbin, but could secure a three or four-year deal to cross to the kennel.

The Saints are aware of the Bulldogs’ interest in the popular goalkicker but are yet to make significant moves to keep Bruce.

It means the 197cm forward is most likely on the move to join the premiership tilt under Luke Beveridge for next season, unless St Kilda tables a considerable extension over the next few weeks.

Bruce enjoyed another productive season despite some injury niggles this year, booting 36 goals from 22 games.

He ranked first at the club for contested marks (43) and was second for marks inside 50m (40), goals and hitouts in 2019.

Bruce, who started his career at GWS, has close links to the Bulldogs through chief executive Ameet Bains, from their time at the Saints together.

But the Dogs would have to satisfy the Saints in a trade to nab the 113-gamer.

Another top-30 draft pick could be important for St Kilda, however, which currently has only one selection (No.5) inside the top 50 and is plotting moves for Fremantle’s Bradley Hill, Sydney’s Zak Jones and Adelaide’s Alex Keath.

The Bulldogs are preparing to be one of the most aggressive clubs in this year’s trade period with the Dogs also circling Gold Coast playmaker Jack Martin.

The Dogs have money to spend to bolster their squad after missing out on Chad Wingard, who crossed from Port Adelaide to Hawthorn last year.

The Bulldogs already have one of the best young midfields in the league and are arguably the most in-form team heading into the finals series.

A youthful age profile suggests the Dogs will remain in the premiership hunt for an extended period under Beveridge, who this year signed a three-year contract extension.

At the Dogs, Bruce would partner gun spearhead Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache in attack and help out emerging young tall Tim English in the ruck.

Bruce was hampered by a serious back injury last year, playing only three games, but has since made a full recovery and has been part of the Saints’ leadership group.

But St Kilda is preparing to make major changes over the next few months to shake up its list after eight years out of the finals.

The club could part ways with Bruce and gun defender Jake Carlisle.

The Saints are keen to create room for 202cm goalkicker Max King to play from early next season, alongside Tim Membrey and potentially Josh Battle and Port Adelaide big man Paddy Ryder in the forward half.

St Kilda also has a strong interest in Max King’s twin brother Ben.

The Saints have tried to secure him in this trade period but will make another massive play for the big man when his contract expires in 12 months’ time.

King’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio, told the Herald Sun on Tuesday: “Ben King will be at Gold Coast next year”.

That sound you hear is Schache's relief at never having to ruck again.

Welcome aboard Juicy, you may as well get the word 'VERSATILITY' inked on your forearm.

EDIT: That other sound you hear is my relief we're passing on Carlisle, fingers crossed.

[comrade]

That sound you hear is Schache's relief at never having to ruck again.

Welcome aboard Juicy, you may as well get the word 'VERSATILITY' inked on your forearm.

Naughton also gets a bit of relief with another big body up there. He might even get to sneak down to his old defensive stomping ground when the situation requires it.

[Dry Rot]

Say we want to get Martin, Keath and Bruce in 2019.

NGA Jamarra U-H a likely top 5 pick and NGA Stevens in 2020.

Still cannot see how we can do all this with our current picks.

[hujsh]

Say we want to get Martin, Keath and Bruce in 2019.

NGA Jamarra U-H a likely top 5 pick and NGA Stevens in 2020.

Still cannot see how we can do all this with our current picks.

BT show us how it's done!

[Dry Rot]

BT show us how it's done!

Great effort by BT, but would you bet your house on it?

[jeemak]

Between rotations and positioning I don't think we'll be stuck with all three of Bruce, Schache and Naughton parked forward and fighting it out anyway. Plus the latter two are excellent athletes in different ways.

Players get injured. We've been lucky this year by and large, but won't be in all likelihood down the track. It's just how footy works.

Look at it this way. We've been crying out for genuine help for English in the ruck, and we don't want Naughton or Schache playing that role, while moving Trengove or Young into the ruck depending on who is playing leaves us terribly exposed for defencive key position strength.

Now do we get someone who is a known goal kicker and who has shown he can help in the ruck or play defencively to play that role? Or do we get a specialist ruck who offers not much else than ruck craft?

Schache is tall, sure, but his running, ground ball and kicking abilities make him more of a flank type than a key position type. What he lacks in defencive play, Naughton who is a genuine defencive and ground ball gun delivers whilst being a genuine key position player who can roam up the ground and hover over packs. He's also pretty handy in defence.

I don't see how having them all in the team is a problem, and I actually think it makes them all likely to be more effective because they're already versatile and not limited players who will really stretch opposition defences.

Get him on board, try not to overpay. We've been crying out for some tall forwards who can all play ever since I was a lad, and now we've got the mobility to make it happen.

[Twodogs]

Some news on Josh Bruce from SEN.com;

St Kilda forward Josh Bruce is reportedly closing in on a move to the Western Bulldogs.

According to the Herald Sun, the Bulldogs will make a lucrative three or four-year offer to Bruce who is contracted to the Saints for another season.

It’s understood St Kilda are aware of the interest in the 27-year-old who has played 113 games since arriving from GWS in 2013.

Bruce’s move to the Saints was facilitated by then-list boss Ameet Bains, who is now CEO at the Dogs.

The former Giant booted 36 goals in 22 games in 2019 and was ranked first for contested marks at the club.



https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/09/...aints-forward/

[dog town]

Between rotations and positioning I don't think we'll be stuck with all three of Bruce, Schache and Naughton parked forward and fighting it out anyway. Plus the latter two are excellent athletes in different ways.

Players get injured. We've been lucky this year by and large, but won't be in all likelihood down the track. It's just how footy works.

Look at it this way. We've been crying out for genuine help for English in the ruck, and we don't want Naughton or Schache playing that role, while moving Trengove or Young into the ruck depending on who is playing leaves us terribly exposed for defencive key position strength.

Now do we get someone who is a known goal kicker and who has shown he can help in the ruck or play defencively to play that role? Or do we get a specialist ruck who offers not much else than ruck craft?

Schache is tall, sure, but his running, ground ball and kicking abilities make him more of a flank type than a key position type. What he lacks in defencive play, Naughton who is a genuine defencive and ground ball gun delivers whilst being a genuine key position player who can roam up the ground and hover over packs. He's also pretty handy in defence.

I don't see how having them all in the team is a problem, and I actually think it makes them all likely to be more effective because they're already versatile and not limited players who will really stretch opposition defences.

Get him on board, try not to overpay. We've been crying out for some tall forwards who can all play ever since I was a lad, and now we've got the mobility to make it happen.

It isn’t about whether Schache can get up and down the ground. It is the ability to pressure the opposition in our forward half that will be the issue. You can play with 3 talls but not when your method of defending relies so heavily on source pressure. You would want to be marking it a lot.

No issue with Bruce as a player and yes it adds to our versatility. I just question whether taking up part of our war chest on a player who just replaces an established player is the wisest way to use it.

[bulldogtragic]

Don't we need to replace Tom Boyd as the forward/2nd ruck player?

[josie]

Both Bruce and Naughts can play forward and back are agile can mark amazingly well and are mobile. I say YES PLEASE.

[Axe Man]

Tom Browne on Triple M this morning said Bruce has met with Bevo and Bevo has indicated we see him playing both forward and back. It's thought that Bruce would prefer to play forward only.