West Gippsland football: Ex-AFL Saint Bailey Rice signs at Nar Nar Goon

Former St Kilda midfielder Bailey Rice is set to launch his football comeback at a West Gippsland club after four years in the US.

Bailey Rice of the Saints prepares to kick the ball during the Round 11 AFL match against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium in Perth, in 2018. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Former St Kilda player Bailey Rice is heading west as he embarks on a football comeback in 2025.

The 27-year-old has signed at West Gippsland FNC reigning premiers Nar Nar Goon, where his former schoolmates play, including Ryan Bromley.

It will be a case of “America to the Goon” for Rice, who has just completed a four-year US college scholarship in North Carolina — playing as a punter for the Charlotte 49ers.

He will lace up the footy boots and slot into a Nar Nar Goon side that won its first premiership in 14 years last season after producing a barnstorming final quarter to beat Phillip Island by 24 points in the WGFNC grand final.

Nar Nar Goon club president Glenn Cross said Rice’s friendship group enticed him to the club.

“They all went to school together,’’ he said.

“That’s what’s helped us get him. So we enquired, we said, ‘what are you doing when you come back (from the US)?’. And we’ve managed to entice him to sign and play.’’

Bailey Rice in Nar Nar Goon colours. Picture: Facebook

Cross said Rice would bring experience and professionalism to Nar Nar Goon.

“He hasn’t been playing (football) for four years but he keeps himself pretty fit and I don’t think you lose your ability,’’ he said.

“He’s been in an elite system, in the AFL and also over there in the college system, so he’s going to be professional.

“He will bring good things to the club on that front, apart from on-field performance. We’re excited for that because we know he’s switched on.

“You can never have enough leadership so we hope he brings that.’’

Rice possessed a thumping kick during his AFL days and is likely to play as a hybrid midfielder/forward for Nar Nar Goon in ‘25.

“We should be able to use him forward and maybe pinch hit in the mid a bit,’’ Cross said.

“But predominantly I think he’ll be forward.’’

Rice played 11 games for St Kilda after being drafted in 2015 as a father-son.

“I have no regrets,’’ he said in 2020, after taking up a scholarship offer in the US.

He said playing sport in the US had always been an ambition.

“It’s been a big passion since I was young,’’ Rice said at the time.

“Halfway through my career (at St Kilda) I probably lost a bit of that passion for AFL and switched across to American football.

“I ended up getting delisted after my fourth year but it ended up being alright for me because I wanted to do this anyway.’’

Nar Nar Goon celebrates the 2024 premiership. Picture: Supplied

Nar Nar Goon has a new coach and several recruits ahead of its premiership defence.

Matt Shorey has made a seamless transition into the senior coaching role after moving over from Heatherton.

“He’s been great, fantastic,’’ Cross said.

“We couldn’t be happier. He’s very much a players coach, relationship based, and he’s fitted in very quickly.

“He already had a bit of an affinity with the club, his two boys had played there in juniors.’’

Kyle O’Sullivan has returned to Nar Nar Goon after two seasons with Berwick in the Eastern league.

Nick Caddy, who played in a senior premiership at Neerim-Neerim South in the Ellinbank District league as an 18-year-old, has also signed at the Goon. He’s returning from a year out through injury and has looked fit and strong at training.

The Goon are treating brothers Jake and Sam Blackwood as ins for 2025 after they missed large chunks of the 2024 season through injury.

Cross said Nar Nar Goon was ready for the challenges that come with defending a premiership.

“We are the hunted, but we’re also grounded enough to know that we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,’’ he said.

“We respect the opposition, you know, the clubs that have been at the top of the tree like Inverloch, Phillip Island and Cora Lynn. You can’t drop your guard or rest on your laurels, it’s a challenge because we have to keep developing.’’