Cameron Bruce

File:Cameron bruce.jpg

He attended Melbourne High School and played for Melbourne High School Old Boys following his schooling.

It was from MHSOB that he was drafted in 1999, at the relatively old age of 20. He was Melbourne's last selection in that year's draft, taken as the club's sixth pick, and 64th overall, behind team-mates Brad Green, Paul Wheatley and Matthew Whelan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footy.com.au/dags/2000/draftoct1999.html |title=October 1999 Draft Results |access-date=9 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831201128/http://www.footy.com.au/dags/2000/draftoct1999.html |archive-date=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead }} At 20, and after one year in Melbourne's Junior Development Squad, he made his debut for the Demon senior side against Richmond in Round 1 of the 2000 season, kicking a goal with his first kick in AFL football. He played in Melbourne's impressive run to the Grand Final, but had to withdraw from the final match of the season due to injury.Burgan, M. [http://www.melbournefc.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsId=49267 David Neitz – the leader] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009122801/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsId=49267 |date=9 October 2009 }}, MelbourneFC.com.au, 17 August 2007, accessed 3 September 2008. Given the number 32 guernsey, he quickly adapted to AFL football, receiving a Rising Star nomination in his debut season, and finishing runner-up to David Neitz in the club's best-and-fairest in 2002.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/19/1047749824946.html |title=The Age – Team countdown – Melbourne |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-date=26 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060326184623/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/19/1047749824946.html |url-status=live }} He was a member of the International Rules sides of 2002 and 2004.

Bruce developed his game as a midfielder, but from 2005 he has been used in attack, across half-back and also as a tagger – the latter role seen notably through his tagging of high-profile players such as James Hird, Chris Judd, Adam Goodes and Nathan Buckley.[http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=958 SportsAustralia.com – AFL 2007 Season Preview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910004016/http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=958 |date=10 September 2007 }} Because of his ability to adapt to new positions and roles within the side, versatility is often highlighted as one of his main strengths,[http://melbournefc.com.au/TheClub/Players/Playerprofiles/tabid/8357/playerId/14342/teamId/31/typeId/2/Default.aspx Player Profiles – Melbourne FC – Cameron Bruce] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908025247/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/TheClub/Players/PlayerProfiles/tabid/8357/playerId/14342/teamId/31/typeId/2/Default.aspx |date=8 September 2007 }} and he has been regarded as the most versatile player in the league at various stages throughout his career.[http://navsports.com/news.php?news_id=230 NavSports – AFL 2007 Preview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928102913/http://navsports.com/news.php?news_id=230 |date=28 September 2007 }} He enjoyed a solid run of form in 2004, which he managed 34 goals for the year, including a seven-goal haul against Carlton in round six. He carried the form through to the 2005 season – enjoying a particularly fruitful period early in the season – before suffering a serious shoulder injury sustained from a heavy tackle which ended his season prematurely.{{Cite web |url=http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-679.html |title=AFL to tackle hidden joint toll – Chip le Grand |access-date=9 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912160011/http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-679.html |archive-date=12 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}

In 2006, he played a pivotal role in Melbourne's eight-game winning run, which came on the back of losing their first three matches of the season. He kicked the winning goal against Sydney in round 4 and received 10 Brownlow votes throughout the season, his most in a season to date.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pc-melbourne-demons--cameron-bruce |title=Footy Wire: AFL Statistics – Cameron Bruce career stats |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-date=6 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906042718/http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pc-melbourne-demons--cameron-bruce |url-status=live }} He finished second in the club's best-and-fairest and had one of his more consistent seasons – he was one of only two players to average more than 22 disposals and kick more than 20 goals for the season. (The other was Chris Judd.){{Cite web |url=http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/clubs/melbourne/90/cameron-bruce/200052 |title=AFL 2007 – Cameron Burce, Yahoo!7 Sports |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823005038/http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/clubs/melbourne/90/cameron-bruce/200052 |archive-date=23 August 2007 |url-status=dead}} The 2007 season was hugely disappointing for Melbourne, where they were unable to convert narrow losses into wins and being outclassed on other occasions. Bruce celebrated his 150-game milestone in Round 4, and averaged 24 possessions for the season. He achieved a career-high of 35 possessions against the Kangaroos in Round 9, but his goal tally was well down on previous seasons, kicking just nine majors for the season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-melbourne-demons--cameron-bruce |title=Cameron Bruce AFL Profile – Footy Wire: AFL Statistics |access-date=5 August 2007 |archive-date=31 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831130453/http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-melbourne-demons--cameron-bruce |url-status=live }} His preparations for the 2008 season were hampered by injuries suffered in pre-season, but he was selected in Round 1 and played in the first fourteen matches of the season for Melbourne. New Demons coach Dean Bailey used Bruce chiefly in defence in the early stages of the season, where he picked up Brad Johnson and Cameron Mooney among others. Bailey handed Bruce a more attacking role during the middle of the season, generally playing either off half-back as a rebounding defender, or on the wing. Bruce kicked two goals in all three of Melbourne's wins for the season. He played in all 22 of Melbourne's matches for the season (the only Demon player to do so) and averaged more than 24 disposals per game.{{Cite web |url=http://finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=1117 |title=Cameron Bruce 2008 AFL Statistics – FinalSiren.com |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818105947/http://www.finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=1117 |url-status=live }} He won Melbourne's best-and-fairest for the season, polling 75 votes – 15 more than second-place Brock McLean.Holmesby, L. [http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsid=68567 Bruce wins best and fairest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720014737/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsid=68567 |date=20 July 2011 }}, MelbourneFC.com.au, 2 October 2008, accessed 3 October 2008.

Following the retirement of David Neitz in 2008, Bruce was named co-captain of the team alongside James McDonald for the remainder of the season. This came on the back of his role in the leadership group in 2007. McDonald was named as permanent captain for 2009, with Bruce as vice-captain. Bruce resumed his place in the midfield for 2009 and rotated equally between the forward- and back-flanks. He recorded 30 disposals and nine marks against Collingwood in Round 2. He kicked the 200th goal of his career in a 22-point loss to Hawthorn in Round 9. Bruce played his 200th game in round 16, 2009.

In November 2010, it was reported that Bruce had been training with the Hawthorn Football Club, after being given permission by the AFL. Bruce was subsequently drafted by the Hawks with the fifth selection in the pre-season draft.{{cite web|last=The Learned One|title=2011 AFL Pre-Season Draft|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news//blog/2011-afl-preseason-draft/20101207-au4p.html|publisher=Triple M|access-date=7 December 2010|date=7 December 2010|archive-date=8 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108153009/http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/news//blog/2011-afl-preseason-draft/20101207-au4p.html|url-status=dead}} A few hours after he had been drafted by the Hawks, Bruce had revealed on SEN, a Melbourne-based sports-talkback radio station, that he had already been handed the number 17 guernsey, made famous by Hawthorn legend, Michael Tuck.

Midway through the 2012 season, Bruce announced his retirement from football, citing a persistent back injury as the cause.{{cite web|last=Macgugan |first=Mark |title=Broken Hawk retires |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/141631/default.aspx |publisher=Australian Football League |access-date=17 July 2012 |date=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819235723/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/141631/default.aspx |archive-date=19 August 2012}} He retired having played 234 AFL games, including 10 with the Hawks, and kicked 211 goals.

Bruce was appointed as an assistant coach in the role of development coach with the Hawthorn Football Club in 2013 under senior coach Alastair Clarkson. After impressing in his role as a development coach, he was promoted to a senior assistant coach with the Hawks in late 2013. On 22 August 2017, it was announced that Bruce would leave Hawthorn at the end of the 2017 season to become a senior assistant coach at Carlton.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/cameron-bruce-to-join-carlton-as-an-assistant-coach-after-four-years-at-hawthorn/news-story/45b6603f572e6008f8099782561cd594|title=Hawk Bruce to join Bolton at Blues|last=Sam|first=Edmund|date=22 August 2017|work=Herald Sun|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=24 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824104502/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/cameron-bruce-to-join-carlton-as-an-assistant-coach-after-four-years-at-hawthorn/news-story/45b6603f572e6008f8099782561cd594|url-status=live}}

At the end of the 2017 season, Bruce joined the Carlton Football Club as senior assistant coach under senior coach Brendon Bolton.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cameron-bruce-to-join-carlton-blues-as-righthand-man-20170822-gy1xrn.html|title=Cameron Bruce to join Carlton Blues as right-hand man|date=22 August 2017|access-date=1 March 2022|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301091921/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cameron-bruce-to-join-carlton-blues-as-righthand-man-20170822-gy1xrn.html|url-status=live}} At the end of the 2021 season, Bruce left the Carlton Football Club due to a clean-out at the club, after an extensive review of the club's football operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/678857/carlton-cleanout-continues-highly-rated-assistant-cameron-bruce-heads-to-brisbane#:~:text=BRISBANE%20has%20swooped%20on%20highly,2021%20campaign%20has%20now%20departed.&text=He%20will%20act%20as%20the%20midfield%20coach%20at%20Brisbane%20from%202022.|title=Carlton cleanout continues, highly rated assistant heads north|date=20 September 2021|access-date=12 December 2021|archive-date=13 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213043807/https://www.afl.com.au/news/678857/carlton-cleanout-continues-highly-rated-assistant-cameron-bruce-heads-to-brisbane#:~:text=BRISBANE%20has%20swooped%20on%20highly,2021%20campaign%20has%20now%20departed.&text=He%20will%20act%20as%20the%20midfield%20coach%20at%20Brisbane%20from%202022.|url-status=live}}

On 20 September 2021, it was announced that Bruce had joined Brisbane Lions as an assistant coach in the position of midfield coach under senior coach Chris Fagan.{{cite web|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/1018852/cameron-bruce-joins-the-ranks|title=Cameron Bruce Joins the Ranks|date=20 September 2021|access-date=12 December 2021|archive-date=13 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213044110/https://www.lions.com.au/news/1018852/cameron-bruce-joins-the-ranks|url-status=live}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2000 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 19 || 22 || 13 || 110 || 78 || 188 || 54 || 14 || 1.2 || 0.7 || 5.8 || 4.1 || 9.9 || 2.8 || 0.7 || 0

|-

| 2001 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 22 || 31 || 18 || 148 || 105 || 253 || 81 || 34 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 6.7 || 4.8 || 11.5 || 3.7 || 1.5 || 0

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2002 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 24 || 20 || 11 || 216 || 152 || 368 || 121 || 47 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 9.0 || 6.3 || 15.3 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 0

|-

| 2003 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 20 || 25 || 18 || 205 || 137 || 342 || 101 || 34 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 10.3 || 6.9 || 17.1 || 5.1 || 1.7 || 8

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2004 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 22 || 34 || 23 || 229 || 199 || 428 || 99 || 81 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 10.4 || 9.0 || 19.5 || 4.5 || 3.7 || 9

|-

| 2005 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 15 || 20 || 14 || 167 || 93 || 260 || 73 || 27 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 11.1 || 6.2 || 17.3 || 4.9 || 1.8 || 8

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2006 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 24 || 21 || 19 || 303 || 234 || 537 || 175 || 100 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 12.6 || 9.8 || 22.4 || 7.3 || 4.2 || 10

|-

| 2007 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 16 || 9 || 14 || 194 || 183 || 377 || 96 || 66 || 0.6 || 0.9 || 12.1 || 11.4 || 23.6 || 6.0 || 4.1 || 5

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2008 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 22 || 13 || 12 || 244 || 287 || 531 || 147 || 77 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 11.1 || 13.0 || 24.1 || 6.7 || 3.5 || 2

|-

| 2009 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 19 || 9 || 8 || 213 || 266 || 479 || 114 || 58 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 11.2 || 14.0 || 25.2 || 6.0 || 3.1 || 0

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2010 || {{AFL Mel}} || 32

| 21 || 6 || 7 || 210 || 304 || 514 || 116 || 73 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 10.0 || 14.5 || 24.5 || 5.5 || 3.5 || 4

|-

| 2011 || {{AFL Haw}} || 17

| 9 || 1 || 4 || 67 || 95 || 162 || 50 || 28 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 7.4 || 10.6 || 18.0 || 5.6 || 3.1 || 0

|- style=background:#EAEAEA

| 2012 || {{AFL Haw}} || 17

| 1 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.0 || 4.0 || 8.0 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 0

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career{{cite web |title=Cameron Bruce |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Cameron_Bruce.html |publisher=AFLTables |access-date=20 September 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212646/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Cameron_Bruce.html |url-status=live }}

! 234 !! 211 !! 161 !! 2310 !! 2137 !! 4447 !! 1229 !! 639 !! 0.9 !! 0.7 !! 9.9 !! 9.1 !! 19.0 !! 5.3 !! 2.7 !! 46

|}

Team

• Minor premiership ({{AFL Haw}}): 2012

Individual

• Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal: 2008
• Melbourne captain: 2008
• Australian international rules football team: 2002, 2004
• AFL Rising Star nominee: 2000

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{AFL Tables|ref=C/Cameron_Bruce.html}}
• [http://demonwiki.org/Cameron+Bruce DemonWiki profile]

{{Melbourne Football Club captains}}

{{Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winners}}

{{2000 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{2002 Australian international rules team}}

{{2004 Australian international rules team}}

{{1999 AFL national draft}}

{{2011 AFL pre-season draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, Cameron}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Melbourne Football Club players

Category:Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winners

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club players

Category:Hawthorn Football Club players

Category:Box Hill Football Club players

Category:Australia international rules football team players