PROMISING half-back Bailey Rice has picked St Kilda over Carlton as his preferred AFL destination.

The 18-year-old Dandenong Stingray could have selected either club under father-son rules, with his father Dean playing 116 games for the Saints and 118 for the Blues.

AFL.com.au understands Rice has selected the Saints as his first choice after spending time with both clubs during the year.

St Kilda list manager Tony Elshaug said as recently as Friday the Saints would like to have him on their list.

"Bailey's been down to our club," Elshaug told AFL.com.au.

"It's been a process over 18 months when he started to come down to our club with the father-son academy with his dad Dean and family.

"It's been going along for a long time now, as I guess it has been for Carlton.

"Bailey's spent a number of weeks at our club during the season, so that was good to get to know Bailey well and help him with his football and everything else around him in his world."

Under the new bidding system, which will take place live during the NAB AFL Draft in November, Rice can nominate both clubs but must name one as his first preference.

After a tweak of the father-son bidding rules to accommodate Rice's rare position of being eligible at two clubs, he will be able to name his second choice club as a back-up option.

If his nominated club chooses not to match a bid when it comes, the second club will have the option to jump in and match the bid.