ON THE eve of his 200th match for Melbourne, vice-captain and 2008 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winner Cameron Bruce talks to melbournefc.com.au about his journey in the red and blue in the second of a two-part series.

In 2005, you were the early Brownlow favourite, with eight votes from the first three rounds before you were injured. Was that the best form of your career?
It was good form, but it's really hard to compare. My theory is that the side you're playing in can definitely help how you perform. So my form in those years was helped by the team going so well. Personally, I've been improving throughout my whole career and I think I'm playing some of my best footy now. But people probably look at [me] now and [say:] 'You're not'. But that's their opinion.

Is your 2009 form better than your best-and-fairest season last year?
In terms of my overall game, it probably is. I feel as though I've got that balance of defence and attack and having an influence on a game. In terms of overall consistency, this year has been my most consistent.

So do you believe you're not getting the recognition you deserve?
It's hard to say.

And yet you also have your share of critics, what are your thoughts on them?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm confident and comfortable with the way I'm playing. There is no doubt I've got things to work on, but if I can maintain my consistent form, then that's my aim.

Your disposal efficiency also comes under the microscope, yet it is better than 80 per cent this season. Why do you think it comes under notice?
With my style of kicking, my ball drop tends to be a bit higher, so sometimes I can kick a floater. That sticks out if you kick one of those a game. People don't care about the others and then you can get branded an ordinary kick. Once again, I'm comfortable with the way I've been kicking. I hit most targets and difficult ones. That's the way society is, you only have to do one thing wrong and people jump on it.

Do you like being known as a versatile player?
I get a huge buzz out of playing on a key forward and learning what they do. Then I can take that and use it up forward. I try and learn from my opponents. I love the variety of being able to play different positions and it's helped me stay in the game for so long.   

What is your best position?
On the ball, because my strength is my endurance running. I'm really confident playing in the backline at the moment and hurting my opponent the other way.

Melbourne is heading down a youthful path and you're 30 this year. Yet 2008-09 have been your best two years. Where does this leave you?
I agree [these have been my two best seasons]. That's why I'm confident I can continue to play at this level. I'm doing things in games and at training I haven't been able to do previously. I'd like to keep playing. I'm still young. Not having played senior footy until I was 20, I've got a couple of years on some guys who were playing in the under 18s. It all comes down to the coaches, the footy managers and what the club wants.

Ideally, how much longer would you like to play for?
Mid 30s would be great, so that's another five years. That'd be the ultimate. I'm contracted until the end of next year, so we'll see what happens.

You're vice-captain and have skippered the side in the absence of the now retired David Neitz and James McDonald. Do you still want to captain Melbourne?
It definitely was an aspiration and every player would love to captain the club. I'm still learning a lot about leadership and 'Junior' [McDonald] is a great leader and has grown into that role. He is great to play under and I still think he's got a bit of footy left. Realistically, I think my time has passed, in terms of where the club is heading. It'll probably go to a more youthful player [next]. I'll continue to lead by example on and off the field and continue to help the young players.

You've had three coaches at Melbourne – Neale Daniher, Mark 'Bomber' Riley and Dean Bailey. Can you talk about them?
I owe so much to 'Danners' for giving me my first opportunity and having the confidence in me to play at the top level. They're all very different coaches and I got along great with Neale, but I'm learning so much from 'Bails'. He brings a fresh approach to the game and how it's played. 'Danners' had one particular style of play, whereas every situation is accounted for with Dean. You're learning how to handle different situations off him. 'Bomber' was a great character. I only played a few matches under him, because I had a hamstring injury. He is a very knowledgeable and smart operator. I've got a lot of time for him. He was a great line coach and assistant. I learned some valuable lessons off him.

Who is the best player you've seen at Melbourne in your time?
The 2000 year when 'Woey' [Shane Woewodin] won the Brownlow – that was an amazing year. He played some amazing footy. For that year alone, he was one of the best. But David Neitz was awesome to play with and you grew a bit bigger around him. He was probably the best player I've played with. And Jeff Farmer was a freak. I've played with 'Greeny' my whole career and he is fantastic and a very reliable performer.

And your closest mate made at Melbourne?
'Greeny' is my best mate here. We started together in 1999/2000 and we do everything together and our wives are great mates. We go away together at the end of the season.

Away from the game, what are you up to?
I finished my commerce [degree]. I did some work at an accounting firm and then went to Price Waterhouse Coopers and finished a stint there and now I'm in the national sponsorship team at Myer. That's an area I'm really enjoying. Away from footy, I spend a lot of time with my wife and we recently found out we're going to be having a baby, our first one, so that's really exciting and will be a whole new experience. The baby is due in January and it's going to consume the majority of my time.