When former St Kilda coach Scott Watters called Dermott Brereton looking for a key defender, the five-time Hawthorn premiership hero had no hesitation in suggesting Josh Bruce.
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Now Brereton says Bruce could develop into St Kilda's version of Cameron Mooney and could help extend Saints captain Nick Riewoldt's career.
Bruce starred in St Kilda's 28-point victory over Gold Coast on Saturday, kicking a career-best six goals against the Suns.
It almost doubled his career tally to 15 goals from 26 games.
The Canberra product started out as a forward for Eastlake and kicked the Giants' first ever goal on Manuka Oval, but GWS decided to turn him into a defender because they also had the likes of Jeremy Cameron.
But Bruce struggled for opportunities and had open ears when St Kilda came calling at Brereton's behest.
Brereton had worked with Bruce at GWS, where he does some coaching of their key forwards.
Saints coach Alan Richardson has switched him back forward and he's enjoying a breakout 2015.
In round one he took a contender for mark of the year, which Brereton said helped Bruce "believe he belonged", and he's followed that up with a match-winning haul.
"Scotty called me and said, 'Who's not getting a game at GWS? They're full of talent,' and I said, 'This kid's good, he's a ripping competitor and he's got a great attitude ... I don't know if he's in their long-term plans. This kid deserves a real go at it'," Brereton said.
Brereton loves Bruce's workrate and his 1.96-metre, 94-kilogram build.
He thinks the 22-year-old could emulate Mooney's career, saying the triple-premiership player wasn't the most talented player, but had turned himself into a "champion team man" through hard work.
"He should model his game on the likes of Cam Mooney, he's not going to be a Wayne Carey," Brereton said.
"Mooney turned himself from a toiler into a champion team man in the key focal position.
"One thing I'd say for Bruce, even though he's going super well, there's a whole lot of hard work ahead of him ... because even if he dominates a team, he has to do it with hard work and running."
Brereton also felt Bruce's continued emergence could take the heat off Riewoldt and enable the 32-year-old to play on longer.
He said it would also enable Riewoldt to play more one-on-one, rather than be swamped with defenders, and make it easier for the veteran.
"If somebody else can take the true heat and take the real physical bash-up that Nick's position always receives, if that can be Josh Bruce, he'll prolong Riewoldt's career by an extra year," he said.
Bruce was full of praise for his captain, saying Riewoldt's work - along with that of his midfield - had provided space for him to move in.
He again showed his ability to take strong, contested marks.
But Bruce deflected the praise, happier to get the first win of the season rather than accept personal praise.
"I wouldn't have gotten on the end of any of them without [Riewoldt's] work up the field and obviously all the midfielders applying pressure," Bruce said.
"It was a whole team effort and I was just lucky enough to get on the end of a few."
Bruce now has the chance to shine on the big stage when St Kilda take on Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.
