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BAILEY Rice faced a rare and tough decision this year, as one of few father-son prospects who was eligible to join two clubs under the rule.
The Dandenong Stingrays half-back is the son of former Carlton and St Kilda player Dean, who played more than 100 games for both clubs before retiring a Blues premiership player.
Rice grew up a Carlton fan, and his memories of his dad's career are all in the navy blue – of watching his dad run around the MCG, and sitting in the backseat of a car during the 2001 Grand Final motorcade after his dad's retirement.
But the Saints this year showed their strong interest in signing him as a father-son prospect, and he spent significant time at the club, which is closer to his house in Melbourne's southern suburbs. But he still had a choice to make between Carlton and St Kilda as to where he wanted to play his AFL football.
In October, Rice confirmed he would nominate the Saints as his first preference under the revised father-son bidding rules. It means on draft night the Saints will have first dibs on him when a bid comes.
If a bid comes and the Saints don't want to match it, Carlton will then be asked if it wants to match the points required to draft Rice.
Rice had a consistent season at all levels he played, and was particularly good at TAC Cup level for the Stingrays. He averaged 21 disposals at 73 per cent efficiency during the season, and gave some solid rebound from half-back. He averaged nearly five rebound-50s a game and has a penetrating right-foot kick.
He also showed an aggressive and competitive streak that should stack up well at the next level. Rice isn't afraid of throwing his weight around or going back with the flight of the ball to intercept a mark in defence or make a spoil. His two games at VFL level later this season for the Northern Blues showed he could handle the step-up his physicality too.
The teenager tested fine for speed at the NAB AFL Draft Combine (3.03 seconds over 20 metres) but will need to lift his endurance at the next level to keep up. That's something most draftees have to improve once they step into the elite system, but it should be a focus for Rice, who sat out the aerobic tests (beep test and 3km time trial) at the combine.
Rice is a half-back flanker in the mould of Essendon's Michael Hibberd. He doesn't rely on his pace but can be penetrating with the ball and also influence contests in the air.
The Saints will wait on draft night and hope a bid comes as late as possible. It seems likely a rival club will bid on Rice somewhere in the middle of the second round or early in the third, which means St Kilda won't have to give up too much to match it and bring him into the fold.
Rice is a combative player who should be able to mix it with senior bodies comfortably. He gives run and drive, and is a strong link-up prospect who takes the game on and also defends tightly. 
