Bruce, 31, was sufficiently alarmed by the signals he was getting from the Melbourne coaching staff at the end of the 2010 that he took the big step of seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
After a brief courtship, he joined Hawthorn via the pre-season draft and hasn't regretted his decision for a minute.
The 224-game veteran has won rave reviews from his new teammates and coaches for his work during pre-season and his stellar preparation continued on Friday when he slotted seamlessly into the Hawks' midfield rotation during an intra-club match in Launceston.
"It's amazing what a change can do for your energy and your enthusiasm," Bruce says.
"I feel like a new recruit.
"I haven't missed a [training] session and I haven't done that for four or five years. Just to be able to get my body right feels great.
"They say that a change does wonders and it's amazing how I feel about it. I'm learning new things about the game and improving my performance is something that really excites me.
"To be a part of a really successful side is something that will hopefully drive me for a few more years yet … I still think I've got a lot of improvement left in my game and hopefully this move prolongs my career."
While it wasn't an easy decision to leave the Dees, Bruce maintains he felt he had little choice if he was to continue to have opportunities to play regular footy at the highest level.
"I sat down with the coaching staff and a few key decision-makers there and went through a few things and I got the feeling that they lacked a bit of confidence in where I was going to be in the coming years in relation to playing with Melbourne," he says.
"I felt for my own confidence and happiness that maybe seeking an opportunity elsewhere was the way to go. Thankfully an opportunity came at a club like Hawthorn.
"I've got some good relationships with some guys who have been at Hawthorn and it's a change that's really re-energised me.
"I felt like I had a good career at Melbourne, they gave me so much, but I'm excited about the challenge ahead.
"I'm really enthused about the game and feeling great about what's to come."
