Debut : Round 6, 1955 vs South Melbourne, aged 23 years, 168 days
Carlton Player No. 691
Games : 4
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 16, 1955 vs Collingwood, aged 23 years, 245 days
Guernsey No. 33
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 77 kg (12 stone, 2 lbs.)
DOB : 4 December, 1931
DOD: 12 January 2015
A slimly-built full-back recruited from Yallourn in south-eastern Victoria, John Paice played four senior matches and won Carlton’s Reserves Best First Year Player award in his one and only season at Princes Park in 1955. History shows that many other players have built successful careers after a less auspicious start, but John decided not to continue, and retired from VFL football at the end of that one season. His decision was probably influenced by Carlton’s poor form throughout the year, plus the fact that each game that he had played had ended in defeat by an average of six goals.
Paice was promoted to the senior team for the first time as 19th man for Carlton’s round 6 match against South Melbourne at Princes Park in May, 1955. Wearing guernsey number 33, he was called into the fray during the third quarter, but had little influence as the Bloods finished the better and beat the home side by 8 points. Omitted the following week, he was recalled for rounds 8 and 9, and again warmed the bench as the Blues suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Melbourne and Essendon.
The one and only time Paice started a senior match on the field came in his last appearance – against Collingwood at Victoria Park in early August. Again, it wasn’t a happy occasion, particularly after Magpie full-forward Ken Smale ran amok that afternoon, and kicked seven goals in a 37-point victory to the home side. John finished the game injured on the sidelines, having suffered a bruised thigh in the last quarter.
Although he quickly recovered and finished the year off strongly with Carlton seconds, John departed from Princes Park before season’s end. So far, that is where his story ends - because his movements afterwards are unknown, and no image of him has yet been located.