Werribee VFL premiership star Riley Bice tops list of medical invitees ahead of AFL draft

Werribee VFL premiership player Riley Bice is one of 10 players invited to the MCG this Saturday for a medical ahead of the AFL draft. See the full list.

It was a VFL season studded with success for first-year Werribee defender Riley Bice.

The stylish left-footer was invited to the AFL draft state combine, to be held this Sunday; was a finalist in the prestigious Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the league’s best Under 24 player and was named in the VFL team of the year; figured in the Bees’ first flag since 1993; and was judged his club’s best-first year player.

He also finished fourth in Werribee’s best and fairest.

AFL interest in the Albury product was reaffirmed yesterday when he was asked to present at the MCG this Saturday for a medical.

Richmond VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner Sam “Doc’’ Davidson was also invited, as were Dandenong Stingrays surprise package Sam Toner, Josaia Delana of the GWS Academy, Oliver Hannaford of the GWV Rebels, Zane Cochrane of Oakleigh Chargers, Asher Eastham of Gippsland Power, Xavier Ivisic of Geelong Falcons, Nash King of Calder Cannons and Jhett Haeata of Sandringham Dragons.

Riley Bice lines up a kick during the VFL grand final. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Bice, 24, says it’s good to know AFL clubs had noticed him. He says he couldn’t have imagined what was ahead when he arrived late in Werribee’s pre-season after going on a family holiday to New Zealand.

He got to Chirnside Park in February. He made up for lost time; by early March he was in Werribee’s team for the stand-alone club practice match series at Frankston.

Bice ended up playing every game, averaging 21.8 possessions across half-back.

In the gripping grand final against Southport, he had 23 touches. The Bees had trailed at half-time, prompting coach Jimmy Allan to deliver what Bice called “a pretty big spray, the worst I’ve ever been a part of’’.

“He (Allan) didn’t actually realise Prime was standing behind him, so the whole speech they were in there for would have been beeped out, I reckon,’’ he says with a laugh.

Was he worried at the main break?

“To be honest, no. I don’t think we could have played much worse. Things weren’t going our way. We got that spray and the boys responded.’’

The former Murray Bushranger marvelled at how far he came this year, after being encouraged by his Albury coaches Shaun Daly and Anthony Miles to have a dash at the state league. Bice won the club’s best and fairest in 2023 after having twice been runner-up to former AFL player and VFL Liston Trophy winner Miles.

“I rocked up to Werribee in February not really knowing what was going to happen,’’ he says.

“I sort of went week by week and the group we had there was so committed. The bond we had, players, coaches … that’s something we had over the others teams, I reckon, that connection.’’

Riley Bice played every game for Werribee this VFL season, averaging 21.8 possessions across half-back. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Bice says he had “no clue’’ about his prospects of being drafted, but he has spoken to “a couple of clubs’’.

“You hear a few things but you never really know until your name’s called out.

“If nothing was to come of it, I’ve loved every moment at Werribee. You can’t really live and die by it but obviously it would be awesome if it did happen.’’

Bice’s name rang a bell with a few recruiters when it appeared on Werribee’s team sheet.

As a top-age Bushranger, he was invited to the draft combine in 2018. Overlooked for that year’s drafts, he stayed at Albury, but the VFL was never far from his thoughts. He felt the time was right after two full seasons out of Covid.

Bice believes his teammates Jack Henderson and Jack Riding should be in the thoughts of AFL clubs. Henderson won the Norm Goss Medal as best-afield in the grand final and was second in the Bees’ best and fairest, behind Dom Brew, who won everything bar Powerball this year.

“Both of those boys wouldn’t let a club down if they were given an opportunity,’’ Bice says.

Werribee coach Jimmy Allan says Bice took great strides this year, particularly with his defensive skills.

“He’s never really played back, so it was pretty foreign to him,’’ he says.

“By the end of the year his defensive stuff was really good and he complemented the other backs by setting us up with his ball movement and taking the game on.’’