JOSH Bruce was born in Canberra in June 1992 and spent much of his formative years rowing in the summer and playing AFL in the winter.

At 196 centimetres and 94 kilograms, Bruce is an athletic utility capable of playing almost any position on the field.

He was an integral part of the 2010 GWS TAC Cup team after representing NSW/ACT at the 2009 NAB Under 18 Championships the previous season.

The agile Bruce took more steps forward in 2010, booting 15 goals in the National Championships and was one of three bottom-aged players selected in the Under 18 All-Australian team.

After a year with Glenelg in the SANFL in 2011, Bruce became one of GWS’s earliest recruits.

The then 19-year-old made his AFL debut in front of his friends and family at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in the Giants 42-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round five. He wasn’t expected to play, but came in as a late replacement for Chad Cornes.

Bruce didn’t play senior football again until round 17, when he impressed with a 15-touch effort against Fremantle.

With three AFL games under his belt – largely as a marking forward – Bruce continued to develop his game in 2013 and finished the season with 11 matches, bringing his career tally to 14 across two years.  

He was a consistent and reliable performer for the Giants throughout the year, predominantly taking the opposition’s second or third tall forward as he learnt his craft in defence.

On October 25, GWS agreed to trade Josh Bruce in exchange for pick No. 48, which the Saints received as part of the Billy Longer trade.

Bruce’s manager indicated he would enter the pre-season draft if a deal couldn’t be arranged.

Bruce shapes as another promising acquisition for St Kilda this trade period, following the arrivals of Longer, Shane Savage and Luke Delaney.

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32