From AFL to gridiron, Bailey Rice is following his passion
Former St Kilda player Bailey Rice says being delisted a year ago has opened the door to a whole new sporting passion. And his father, ex-AFL champ Dean, is happy for him to chase it overseas.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bailey Rice had four years on St Kilda’s list from 2016-19, playing 11 senior games.
Many believed he should have played more.
It was his boyhood dream to play in the AFL and he’s proud he did.
“I have no regrets,’’ the 23-year-old said.
When Rice was delisted by the Saints a year ago at the end of the 2019 season, he was disappointed but not crushed, as some players might be.
The young man’s sporting passion had shifted. Rice was already looking forward to his next challenge, in another football code — American gridiron.
“It’s been a big passion since I was young,’’ Rice said.
“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.’’
Rice spent the early part of 2020 learning the finer points of gridiron — as a punter — with former Miami Dolphins player Jy Bond.
Rice’s new goal centred around playing in the US, starting with a college scholarship. The NFL is his ambition.
Last week, he took a big step towards it when the University of North Carolina made contact with a scholarship offer.
All going well, Rice will embark on his American adventure in mid-2021, playing and studying.
“It’s a positive either way,’’ Rice said.
“If you don’t make NFL you come out with a college degree…you can’t lose.’’
Rice (184cm and 83kg) was a powerful kick as a footballer but says there’s more to being a good punter in gridiron.
“It’s a bit like a golf swing, if you swing too hard you spray it,’’ he said.
“It’s the same with kicking an American ball, you can’t really try and kick it too hard…you’ve got to hit the sweet spot and kick through the ball.
“There’s a lot more to it than just kicking it.’’
Rice joined St Kilda under the father-son rule in the 2015 draft.
His dad Dean played 116 games with the Saints and 118 with Carlton, including the 1995 AFL premiership.
Bailey chose St Kilda, and made his AFL debut (wearing No. 37, the same as his dad wore at the Saints between 1987-93) against Collingwood in round 9 of the 2018 season. He played pretty much the rest of the season, and had good numbers, but didn’t get another opportunity the following season.
Rice has no regrets but there’s part of him that feels like he deserved more chances.
“I ended up playing 11 games which is good,’’ he said.
“I guess I gave it a crack and I thought I actually did alright in my 11 games but I don’t know, the Saints went after a few other players in the trade period and they ended up getting them all so it just worked out like that.
“But I gave it a crack, I’m happy with what I did, I have no regrets. Now I’m looking forward to what’s to come.’’
Dad Dean is happy Bailey is following his dream.
“He always loved footy and he was very good at footy but I’m not sure in the end it was his passion,’’ he said.
“I think American sports is his passion. He’s really keen and dedicated to it, so that’s him following his dream I think.’’
Rice has been to America each year since he was 15, attending all the main sports there. He supports the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL, Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and the Yankees in baseball.
Rice went to the US last year with a few St Kilda players, including Rowan Marshall, and stayed with former Saint Arryn Siposs, who is also chasing his gridiron dream.
“I spoke to him about it,’’ Rice said. “I guess that got me even more keen to give it a shot.’’ MORE FOOTY
MPNFL: Pines to replenish list for 2021