• Draft order: Your club's provisional picks
• Get to know your club's next young guns at the NAB AFL Draft Hub
BAILEY Rice is decisive on the field, but the father-son prospect just can't seem to make up his mind about his AFL future.
His father, Carlton's 1995 premiership player Dean Rice, played more than 100 games with both St Kilda and the Blues, so the 18-year-old has the luxury of nominating both clubs for next month's NAB AFL Draft.
However, Rice must choose his preferred destination, and he revealed it was such a difficult decision that he would probably take "the next couple of weeks" to weigh it up ahead of the October 31 deadline.
The talented half-back feels he can't lose either way, but he has been confronted with conflicting emotions.
The Carlton links are strong. A lifelong Blues fan who has always dreamt of playing for the club, Rice has faint memories of his father's playing career – of being in the Blues rooms with his "old man" as a four-year-old, of sitting with him in the motorcade for retiring players at the 2001 Grand Final, and of being in the MCG crèche with the likes of Jack Silvagni, a fellow Carlton father-son candidate.
In August, Rice also played two VFL games for Carlton's reserves, the Northern Blues.
Rice hadn't given St Kilda a thought before this season, when he rocketed into draft calculations as a likely second-round pick.
He spent eight Tuesdays with the Saints this season at their Seaford base – just 30 minutes drive from the Rice house in Melbourne's outer south-east – and has developed friendships with several players.
Rice, his father and manager Mark Kleiman have met with coaches and officials from both clubs, and the youngster has been equally impressed with each.
"I'm pretty lucky to have two clubs (to choose from), and I'd be happy with either of them, but unfortunately I have to choose one," Rice told AFL.com.au.
"It's a tough choice, and I keep going from one to the other. But I'll sit down with Dad and my manager and make a decision in the next couple of weeks."
Rice said there were "heaps of positives" about both clubs.
"They're both Victorian clubs, which is great, and they're both trying to climb back up the ladder," he said.
"Carlton are rebuilding, so they'll have a lot of young guys around my age coming in, and St Kilda's list is around the age of 22, which isn't too much older. Either way, it'll be good to grow up with a developing list."
Saints in the dark over father-son prospect Bailey Rice's plans
Rice has undergone significant development himself over the past two years.
A catalyst was the disappointment of being overlooked for selection in the Vic Country under-16 squad in 2013 after being told he wasn't fit enough.
"In a way that's helped me, because it gave me a bit of a chip on my shoulder and it drove me on because I wanted to prove people wrong and show I could play some good footy," Rice said.
Another key component was a move to defence last year.
Rice played in attack from under-9s to under-16s at Endeavour Hills and was full-forward for his school, Hallam Senior College, kicking bags of 10 and nine goals. But when he graduated to the Longwarry seniors early last year, the then 17-year-old was tried at half-back, to ease him into competition with men. It suited him with his anticipation, pace, strong marking, penetrative kicking and competitive instincts.
And as a bottom-age player for the Dandenong Stingrays last year he played mostly as a wingman.
"I've been everywhere," he said.
Bailey Rice made the Vic Country team. Picture: AFL Meda
At times this year it seemed he was everywhere in the back half.
Rice's main season goal was to make the Vic Country squad for the NAB AFL U18 Championships. He exceeded his expectations by playing four games and being part of a title-winning team.
Rice also excelled in the TAC Cup, averaging 21 disposals (including 15 kicks), six marks and three tackles.
Perhaps his best performance was when he amassed 27 possessions (22 kicks) and 14 marks (including six contested) in a narrow loss to the NSW/ACT Rams.
"I feel like I know when and where the ball is going to go, and I love going for my marks," Rice said. "And when I get the ball in my hands I'm confident I can use it well.
"Hopefully I can build my engine and move into the middle at some stage."
Both of his VFL appearances for the Northern Blues reserves were memorable occasions.
Rice's debut against Collingwood came in the curtain-raiser to the round 19 clash between the traditional rivals.
"That was an awesome experience – my first game on the MCG," he said.
The next week he played against St Kilda's reserves, Sandringham, and he was tested out by some of his potential Saints teammates.
"Those two games were a massive step up from the TAC Cup, but I adapted pretty quickly," Rice said. "I got a lot of confidence from it."
At the recent NAB AFL Draft Combine, Rice finished equal-seventh in the Matthew Lloyd clean hands test.
He also plans to have a clean shave, sporting a moustache that he says will soon "be gone".
Many people see similarities between Rice and his father as players, but the youngster quipped that he is glad he hasn't inherited his red hair.
"Dad's been great. He's never forced me to play footy – he just wants me to enjoy it as much as I can," he said.
Rice hasn't felt the pressure of being the son of a premiership player.
"I've put more pressure on myself to improve rather than anything to do with the father-son thing," he said.
He also has a back-up plan.
"I've always said that if footy doesn't work out I'll join the police force, army or navy," he said. "From a young age I was always playing with little figurines and I've always loved watching war movies."
