Potential Carlton father-son recruit Bailey Rice has said Saturday’s VFL game against Collingwood at the MCG was “a really good learning experience” for him.

Rice finished with 12 disposals in his VFL debut, fronting up for the Northern Blues on the MCG in the VFL curtain raiser before the Collingwood-Carlton match.

Playing solely down back, the contest presented an opportunity for Rice to mingle with Carlton players and coaches before potentially making his way onto the list in 2016.


Bailey Rice produces a strong spoil against Collingwood. (Photo: Jason Heidrich)

Given his father Dean played 118 games for Carlton and 116 for St Kilda, Rice’s situation is a unique one given he can play for either club under the father-son rules.

Rice said the game was a big moment for him, in what also doubled as a historic day for both the Blues and the VFL competition.

“Obviously I’m used to playing for the Stingrays, so to make my VFL debut was a massive step up,” Rice said post-match.

“I thought I started off a bit slow, but I got used to the pace as the game went on and worked my way into it.”

Despite the disappointing result from a Northern perspective, Rice impressed at times on the big stage, with his composure and foot skills coming to the fore.


Like father, like son: Bailey Rice shows some of the trademark Rice physicality. (Photo: Jason Heidrich)

It was an occasion which he said was made all the more beneficial from the advice which Carlton coaches and players offered.

“It was a really good learning experience for me: obviously it’s my draft year so it’s good to take it all in and every little thing helps,” Rice said.

“To even have coaches on the ground give me pointers - I just took it all in and tried to learn from it.”

Rice’s best moment - which he would describe as a “real confidence booster” - came 20 minutes in the first term.

Isolated against Jack Blair in an open forward 50, Rice hassled his goal-side opponent to eventually win the ball back and deliver to Tom Wilson, stopping a certain Collingwood goal.

“That one on one was early in the game - as soon as I got that done with it I got a lot of confidence out of it,” Rice said.

“I felt from then I thought I could impact the contest, so it was good to get that out of the way.”