Two years younger than his brother Ian, Bruce Nankervis gave sterling service to the Cats for well over a decade, clocking up 253 games. Along with Ian, Bruce was recruited from Geelong League club Barwon, breaking into the Cats’ senior side midway through 1970. Bruce’s career took off in 1973 when coach Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer released him into an on-ball role. Determined, tenacious and persistent, Bruce developed into a highly effective nullifier of opposing teams' star players. He won back-to-back best and fairest awards in 1973-4 and was club captain for two years from 1976. He also wore the Big V a total of 12 times, the same number as brother Ian. Bruce retired at the end of the 1983 season, after contributing significantly to the excitement at Kardinia Park over a 14-year career.