A NEW pair of nail clippers won't be on Western Bulldogs recruit Josh Bruce's shopping list after he collects his first paycheck from his fresh four-year contract.

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.

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"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'."

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The 27-year-old said he left St Kilda with no bad blood, but he 'couldn't be happier' to find a new home at Whitten Oval.

The Dogs approached Bruce a couple of months ago, but talks really ramped up once the season ended.

Josh Bruce faces the media for the first time as a Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Photos

The Saints were unable to accommodate Bruce's request for a long-term contract, with security being one of the off-field factors for his decision to leave Moorabbin.

Bruce has a young daughter (Poppy) and he's heading to Byron Bay in a few weeks to marry his partner Pip Marques.

"It's been a big couple of weeks, we sold our house a couple of weeks ago too."



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."

"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."

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"Big Timmy English will be putting it down their (the midfielders) throats and hopfully '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.

"I definitely see us playing in the same forward line. There's definitely room for three talls."

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.

"I had a couple of beers with my manager last night and he remembers coming down to Canberra and picking me up when I was 18 years old."

Bruce 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'.

"It was a real shame I couldn't get to the 100 (game-mark). 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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