Last February, Riley Bice’s chances of even being noticed by an AFL club were slim. The odds of being a key part of the Sydney Swans team facing North Melbourne this Saturday? It would have been a case of writing your own ticket with bookies.
Bice had ability, but at 23 years old, his CV didn’t reflect it. A total of three games for the GWS Giants reserves in 2022 was as good as it got. He juggled life playing for the Albury Tigers with work as an excavator driver. His decision to move to Werribee Football Club in Melbourne wasn’t in pursuit of an AFL dream; it was to finally do his talent justice.
“It always was a dream as a kid growing up to make the AFL, but I definitely wasn’t confident that it was ever going to happen,” Bice said. “It was more just a thing of moving down there [to Werribee], giving it a crack [in the VFL] because I didn’t want to look back when I was older and wished I had tried it.”
Werribee’s senior coach Jimmy Allen remembers the arrival of Bice. Bice had arrived late into Melbourne with the majority of pre-season completed. Allen knew that the raw materials of a talented footballer were there; he just needed to refine them.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who are in the gym all the time, and they do everything right with their diet and recovery and all that sort of stuff. He was really raw. He was a country footballer who was just really good at footy,” Allen said.
“He’s probably had to develop some professional habits in the last year and a bit, and to his credit, he’s done that. The impact he had for us was massive, he could turn games in 10 or 15 minutes at times.”
Riley Bice has impressed the Swans after a hard road to the AFL.Credit: Getty Images
Allen recognised that Bice’s vision, speed and ball use would be better used on the halfback flank, after having previously played on the wing and at half-forward.
It was a positional change that would change his life. Bice arrived in Werribee unsure whether he would be returning regularly to play for Albury Tigers. He finished the year by winning the club’s first premiership in 31 years and making the VFL team of the year.
Bice grew up as a Swans fan and was interviewed by the club ahead of the draft. Chris Keane, the Swans head of list strategy wasn’t perturbed by his age or lack of experience at the top level. The Swans had a rich history of giving older players a chance, including club legend Brett Kirk and former captain Dane Rampe. Keane knew the upside on Bice was significant.
“We didn’t go in thinking he’s a mature age player, we didn’t approach him in that sense because he’s actually quite physically immature.
“He’s never done a pre-season, he’s never really had a gym foundation, or done much gym work.
“So whilst he was 24 years of age, we actually felt like there was still a level of development within him, so that also appealed to us. But clearly what he could do on the field was really strong, and that’s the main reason [the Swans drafted him].”
Bice had watched the draft nervously with his mother at home in Albury, shaking when his name was read out by the Swans. The celebrations of fulfilling a boyhood dream against the odds were muted by the reality of having to prove himself all over again.
Happily, Bice’s integration at the Swans happened quickly. An early dinner invitation to Dean Cox’s home helped, as did living with Harry Cunningham and building a friendship with Justin McInerney. On the training field, Bice’s foundation at Werribee provided a strong platform.
Bice’s debut for the Swans against the premiers Brisbane wearing club favourite Luke Parker’s number provided promise, but his second game in last Sunday’s win against Fremantle brought excitement. Bice scored a stunning goal in Perth and was a key part of the Swans’ win.
Bice knows that despite his promising start, it is early days in a long and unforgiving AFL season. The defender is happy to give other older players across Australia hope that making the highest level is still possible, but now, his focus is solely on keeping his place in the Swans’ match-day squad.
