By Tara Murray
It couldn’t have worked out much better for Sydney draftee Riley Bice.
Twelve months ago, Bice wasn’t even on a Victorian Football League list and was playing local footy.
Bice played three games for the GWS Giants in 2022 and decided that he was keen to give it one more crack this year.
Some connections with players saw him head to Werribee.
He became one of the breakout stars for the VFL season and was a star in Werribee’s premiership run.
It also put him on the radar of AFL clubs including the Swans which took him at pick 41 in last month’s national draft.
Speaking with the media last week, Bice said was loving it so far.
“I’m really enjoying the lifestyle, the boys have been really welcoming and enjoying it,” he said.
“I was a Swans supporter growing up. It definitely means a lot [and I’m] looking forward to it.”
Bice told Star Weekly after the grand final that attending the draft combine and being on the radar of clubs wasn’t something he thought of at the start of the season.
The boy from Albury said the hard work had paid off.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity here at the Swans,” he said last week. “I’m looking forward to getting to work and see what happens.
“A lot of hard work has gone into it. I’m very grateful for a lot of people who have been in my corner, supporting me and pushing me along the way.”
Bice is one of a number of current and past Swans players from the Albury region. He said now-former coach John Longmire, who was from the region, mentioned it in one of their first conversations.
Bice is hoping that his experience in the VFL will help him heading into the AFL season next year.
He was nominated for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, which recognises the best player under-23 in the VFL as he averaged 21.1 disposals, 6.9 marks and 4.8 intercepts.
“Playing VFL at higher level than some of the other draftees I have the confidence that I have performed at the level.”
Bice will wear the number 26 for the Swans next year.
It was the number that he wore at Werribee and that of former Swans captain Luke Parker.
Bice said it was a number that he wanted.
“It’s a massive privilege to follow in him, a champion of the club, captain of the club, it’s massive.
“Being a Swans supporter growing up, I looked up to Parks a lot.”
