Bailey Rice has been to Princes Park many, many times before. He used to go to kindergarten there when his famous father Dean trained and played for the navy blues. He kicked the ball around the rooms with another son of a gun, Jack Silvagni, and trained with the Carlton father-son academy for years. On Saturday, he will return for a different reason.
The 20-year-old, who chose the Saints over the Blues ahead of the 2015 National Draft – despite being eligible as a father-son selection for both teams – will make his first appearance in red, white and black after an impressive second summer at Linen House Centre.
“I’ve got memories of Dad playing at Princes Park when I was younger. I remember going down to training there and being in the old change rooms on the other side of the ground from the new ones,” Rice told saints.com.au on Friday ahead of St Kilda’s second game of the JLT Community Series.
“I remember joining in training and running around with Jack Silvagni at the club. We’d kick the footy around the rooms at Princes Park. There used to be a kindergarten there as well and I used to go there when Dad was training and playing as well, so I’ve got a lot of memories there.
“Dad raised the irony when I told him I was playing; it is a surreal feeling because I’ve always barracked for them and always wanted to play for Carlton when I was a kid and now I’m playing against them this week in my first game in Saints colours so it’s a bit ironic.”
Dean Rice played in Carlton's premiership win over Geelong in 1995.
While many will find Rice’s first appearance for the Saints ironic, and will see plenty of similarities between father and son when the Dandenong Stingrays product runs out on Saturday, the man of the moment simply can’t wait for his first taste of senior football.
“I’m excited and can’t wait for the opportunity to come this weekend. I know it’s only a pre-season game but it will be a big game for me playing against the Blues who I’ve always barracked for,” Rice said.
“I chose St Kilda and ended up being drafted by St Kilda, fortunately, so it will be a big moment for me and my family. I can’t wait for the siren to go and to be out there in Saints colours on Princes Park.”
After being nursed through his maiden summer in Seaford, before suffering a bout of glandular fever at the tail end of the pre-season, Rice has gone from strength to strength this time around. He has been exposed to far more of the program, and now feels far more confident in his ability to not only run out games but to have an impact.
“This pre-season has been really good, I’ve remained healthy and I’ve been able to get through the whole pre-season and I feel a lot fitter than what I did this time last year,” he said.
“I know the game plan and the structure of what I have to do when I’m out on the ground a lot better, so I’m a lot more comfortable and I’m able to use my voice a lot more and communicate to players if they are out of position. This pre-season has been really good for my development, but I’m glad it’s done and games are here.”
For most, Saturday afternoon will be just another practice match at a suburban venue. But for Rice and his family, it will hopefully be the next step on a long and successful journey, and at a ground which is sewn into the fabric of their past.
