A new pair of nail clippers won't be on Western Bulldogs recruit Josh Bruce's shopping list.
The nerves of the final day of the Telstra AFL Trade Period got to Bruce so much that he made a call to Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge to make sure a trade would happen.
"I haven't got many fingernails left," Bruce said.
"I called Bevo yesterday morning, he was up in Noosa and he calmed the anxiety a little bit. He said, 'Mate, we'll get it done, no worries'."
The 27-year-old left St Kilda with no bad blood, and said he 'couldn't be happier' to now call Whitten Oval home.
Bruce said the youth and star power of the Bulldogs' list had captured his attention.
"I was keeping an eye on the Doggies in the back half of the year,” he said.
"Some of the young stars they've got coming through I'm really looking forward to working with - your Aaron Naughton's and Josh Schache's of the world, and obviously one of the best engine rooms in the comp.
"Big Timmy English will be putting it down their (the midfielders) throats and hopefully 'Bont' (Marcus Bontempelli) is putting it down my throat."
Bruce is happy to be 'cannon fodder' for Naughton and Schache, as the Bulldogs go from having a lack of key forwards on the list to one of the most powerful front halves in the league.
BRUCE: IT FEELS LIKE HOME
"I definitely see us playing in the same forward line. There's definitely room for three talls,” he said.
The former Saint is used to playing in a three-pronged attack, and cited how successful Hawthorn had been with three key forwards occupying the same space.
The journey for Bruce has been one with a few stops, but hardly any regrets.
He started his career with the GWS Giants and finished year 12 in his first year of football, before crossing to St Kilda to play 99 games there. Now he's at what he hopes is his last stop – 'The Kennel'.
DOGS COME UP TRUMPS IN LATE TRADE DRAMA
"It was a real shame I couldn't get to the 100 (at the Saints). Poppy won't be able to be father-daughter in the AFLW, but hopefully I can get to the 100 at the Dogs."
"This is it, no more trades."
The first order of business for Bruce (after his wedding, of course) will be to achieve something he's been 'desperate' to be a part of for his whole career; make the finals.
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