St Kilda key forward Josh Bruce says his partner in crime Paddy McCartin has put together an impressive pre-season on the track, following an injury-plagued 2016.
The highly rated McCartin endured an arduous second season in the game, with three separate concussions and a broken collarbone marring his year.
Bruce, who was elevated to the leadership group for the first time this month, believes the 2014 No. 1 pick has taken significant strides forward with his conditioning over the summer, laying the foundations to launch from in 2017.
“I’m super proud of what he has been able to achieve, even though he had a lot on his plate last year, especially with the No.1 tag,” Bruce told the Herald Sun on Monday.
“He just wants to improve week in, week out and it seemed last year that every time he stepped out on the park he was doing something special.
“This pre-season has been very similar for Paddy. He has just kept improving his fitness and his all round game. He hasn’t missed a beat. It’s exciting times for him and the rest of the three talls.”
St Kilda not only rose from six wins in 2015 to 12 last year, but also increased their points for by 13-points per game, rising from 15th to 10th, on the back of career-best seasons by Tim Membrey (44 goals) and Mav Weller (24 goals).
Bruce says the forwards at Linen House Centre have grown under the tutelage of former Saints skipper, Aaron Hamill, who has placed a large emphasis on work rate.
“We have got a really good work ethic led by the great Aaron Hamill, who still puts the work ethic and defence and work rate before everything else. So, I think it’s a great forward line to be a part of and looking forward to 2017,” Bruce said.
After booting 50 goals in a breakout campaign in 2015, the former Greater Western Sydney key defender finished last year with 38 goals from 22 appearances.
Bruce admits he found the added attention of being the main target inside 50 a challenge, but it is one he has embraced this season as he tries to find a way to adapt his game against the best defenders in the game.
“In 2015 Nick (Riewoldt) drew the No.1 defender and I found it a little easier to get off the chain. Even though I worked hard on that pre-season, 2016 was a little bit tougher,” he said.
“I really relished that opportunity and I really see it as a feather in the cap to have these guys playing on me.
“What I’ve done in the pre-season is try and improve and adapt my game and get used to that, and I’m really excited about what it is ahead.”
