Riley Bice's path to the AFL is far from common.

A mature-age recruit, Sydney plucked him from the VFL with Pick 41 in the 2024 National Draft after he spent 12 months with Werribee.

But his journey started well before then.

Bice, who hails from Albury, was always an avid footballer, and couldn't get enough of the Sherrin.

Up until the age of 15, the lethal left-footer played two matches on the weekend for two separate junior clubs.

"I played juniors for St. Patrick's and Murray Magpies down in Albury," Bice told Zero Hanger.

"Pretty much played two games. One game on a Saturday. One was a Sunday in two different leagues. I played that until I was 14 or 15."

SEE MORE: The legacy of Werribee's player development

Nearing his draft year, Bice made the switch to Ovens & Murray powerhouse Albury in 2016, where he featured in the thirds as a 16-year-old, whilst also pulling on the boots at St. Pats.

The following season was when he started to make his mark, invited down to Talent League club the Murray Bushrangers as a bottom-ager, whilst also featuring for the Tigers in the Victorian country competition.

In 2018, he took his game to a whole new level, which welcomed attention from AFL clubs as Bice played 18 games for the Bushrangers and a solitary match in the U18 Academy Series for GWS. But three senior matches for Albury, kicking 10 goals and being named in the best twice boosted his case, while he also attended the AFL State Draft Combine.

Interest from West Coast emerged but quickly dissipated.

"I only spoke to one club but nothing serious I don't think," the ex-'Bee said.

So it was back to the drawing board for Bice, who returned to the Albury seniors as a key cog for the next few seasons, playing 67 games between 2019 and 2023 as a goalkicking winger.

But in 2022, interest re-emerged from the shadows as the Giants, who the Albury product played for in the U18 Academy Series, had signed him to their VFL outfit.

Meanwhile, Bice had been considering work outside of football and was employed at an earthworks company in Albury.

Enter Werribee, who has a strong link to the O&M league, hosting many talented prospects from Victoria's country.

Bice's move to the Tigers would prove more fruitful than he anticipated. Not only did he play in a premiership in 2024 that eluded him in the previous year at Albury, but his season also put him back on the radar at clubland.

"It probably got to last year and give it (one more) crack," Bice added.

"I didn't want to look back when I was older (and know I didn't give it my all). So I made the move to Werribee.

"Prior to getting drafted, I was at O'Brien transport. Got a little depot down in Melbourne. They're actually Albury-based and I was just there (Melbourne) on the forklift."

Bice isn't the only one who's benefited from the footy factory out at Chirnside Park.

Shaun Mannagh (Geelong) and Sam Clohesy (Gold Coast) were drafted to the AFL in 2023 after spending time with the Tigers before Bice, alongside Aidan Johnson and Jack Henderson, all had their dreams come to fruition, and all have debuted so far in 2025.

Werribee captain Dom Brew was also agonisingly close after spending the summer with the Western Bulldogs as an SSP option but ultimately returned to the VFL.

"I think the people there, the environment they've created is a big driver of (players getting drafted)," Bice said.

"Obviously, part of the reason I went there was a few OM boys were playing in that team, and they spoke highly of the club.

"When I got there, it was so obvious of that. They've got a really good development program running to develop the younger boys and it all adds up and was a big reason for the success of the last two years."

And Bice thinks more are set to join the AFL in the coming years.

"To be honest, I think there's a fair few boys at Werribee who definitely can be on a list," Bice continued.

"Dom [Brew] is very stiff to not be playing AFL at the moment. Jack Riding. He's a very handy player, and I think he's pretty close. Louis Pinnuck also."

Bice debuted for the Swans in Round 1 against Brisbane as the sub, but he quickly made his presence felt in Dean Cox's side, utilising his dare and elite ball skills to good effect.

But as the club faced a 0-3 start, it was the journeyman who changed the game for Sydney, making two match-winning plays, including a first AFL goal.

"It's been really good, dream come true," Bice said.

"Loving the full-time life. The club has been really good. Got a good group of boys here."

Bice follows a long line of successful mature-age picks at Sydney. Dane Rampe was plucked out of suburban football at 22 and has featured more than 250 times in the red and white. Robbie Fox has spent a decade in New South Wales after being drafted from Coburg at 23. And club legend Brett Kirk's journey in the AFL began at the age of 20 after spending time at North Albury.