Greater Western Sydney co-captain Callan Ward was bitterly disappointed to see the back of Jack Steele and it’s not hard to see why after the inside midfielder's performance on Saturday, says star forward Josh Bruce.
In just his second appearance in red, white and black, since being traded for a future second-round pick last October, Steele was one of St Kilda’s best against Carlton, finishing with 25 disposals (13 contested), a game-high eight tackles and two goals.
Bruce, who put on a goal kicking clinic against the Blues with seven goals is the only other Saint to have played for the Giants, told Melbourne radio station SEN that the new onballer had slotted in seamlessly at the Saints after overcoming an interrupted start to his pre-season.
“I think Callan Ward has been quoted as saying he’s one of the only Giants players he was genuinely unhappy to see go. He’s going to be a bonafide star. Coming from the likes of Callan Ward it’s a glowing endorsement,” Bruce told SEN Breakfast on Tuesday.
“He’s fitted in really well. The first half of his pre-season was in rehab, where he worked on his engine and worked his running.
“He’s come out and he’s a contested ball king; he loves the hard stuff, the tackling and harassing, so he’s fit into our game plan really nicely.”
Bruce also heaped praise on another Jack, this time of the Billings variety, after the highly rated wingman produced a dominant performance at Ikon Park in the Saints’ second hit out of the JLT Community Series.
“Jack’s had a terrific pre-season. He’s really wanted to leave his mark on the game this year and pretty much every pre-season session he’s taken the three votes,” Bruce said.
“So he’s put the work in and he’s starting to see the dividends. He’s an exceptionally talented player and he’s starting to get the work ethic offensively and defensively as well to match that.”
