Full Name: PERCY JOHN "BILL" BICE
Date of Birth: 21/09/1915
Date of Death: 24/11/1985
Height: 173 cm (5-8 )
Weight: 66 kg ( 10-6 )
Guernsey: 8
Debut: 08/07/1944, Round 10, Hawthorn
Last Game: 12/08/1944, Round 15, Fitzroy
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1944
Total Games: 6
Total Goals: 0
BIOGRAPHY
Bice's Richmond career was brief, but he is one of the few players in Richmond's history to gain Senior selection without playing a Reserves, U19s, or even a practice match with the club.
Nicknamed "Hooker" and often called "Bill" in the press, Bice was a successful premiership wingman with Norwood, including 100 consecutive games, when he enlisted in the A.I.F in the middle of 1941.
Whilst undergoing military service in Victoria, he was signed by South Melbourne secretary Tom Coles. But South seemed slow to recognise his talents, only playing him in one Reserves match, and not selecting him the following week due to his age (he was 32), the fact he was only in Melbourne a brief time, and other younger players were considered.
With only a short time allotted to him in Melbourne, Bice convinced South to clear him to Richmond. He trained at Tigerland on the Thursday and went straight into the senior side for the Rd 10 clash against Hawthorn.
Richmond had been aware of Bice's potential as South Australian interstate follower Ernie Bridgeman told them "not to miss out on this player, who is as good as Jack Oatey"
"He wasn't outstanding - he played as a stranger in a strange place. But he did some things very nicely and created the impression that he will fit into the Tiger side", the Sporting Globe wrote.
His six senior games were played consecutively during the middle of 1944 and he was consistently named in Richmond's best side. In what was his last game with the club, his play was handicapped by a boil on his elbow, against Fitzroy.
Dyer said he was the best find we've had down here for many days. He's a feature in our team as long as he remains in Victoria. His time at Richmond lasted six weeks, as he was then transferred by his military unit.
He was a Life Member of the Norwood Football Club. Bice was the son of Colonel Bice, of the Southern Command, in Melbourne
- by Rhett Bartlett
PRE RICHMOND
United Church Association Team 1932
Norwood 1933-41 (135 games, 12 Goals) (Premiership 1941)
South Australia Representative Team 1937-39 (4 games)
B.H Proprietary (Port Pirrie) 1940 (1 game) (captain-coach)
South Melbourne Reserves 1944 (1 game)
POST RICHMOND
Norwood 1944
Gawler Centrals B Grade Coach ( Premiership ).
PHOTOS
1941 at Norwood
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