BIO
Jace Bode was educated at Pulteney Grammar School and later at Pembroke School. He was a South Australian State Under 18 representative in 2005 and was named in the All Australian team at the end of the series.
Bode joined the Sturt FC and made his league debut in round 22, 2005.
He was selected by the Melbourne Demons in the 2005 AFL rookie draft, and made his AFL debut in 2007. After playing nine senior games for Melbourne (2007-2008) he was delisted and returned to Sturt in 2009.
Bode transferred to Norwood for the 2011 season and made an immediate impact as a running back/wingman. The skilful left-footer with a wonderful work ethic, made 22 league appearances in his first season with the Redlegs.
In 2012 he played another 22 games, including the Grand Final victory over West Adelaide. Bode was a key component of the Redlegs defence and was the recipient of the best team man (Bob "Smokey" Dawson) award for the club.
Bode made his 100th SANFL appearance in 2013 and played in another flag, Norwood comfortably accounting for North Adelaide in the decider.
Remarkably resilient, he played another 21 games in 2014 and was an important member of the Norwood side that defeated Port Adelaide in a nail-biting Grand Final.
Bode was a triple premiership player, having won three flags in a row and his good form continued in 2015 (18 games).
Bode reached the 150 SANFL game milestone in 2016 (including 39 games with Sturt) and was further rewarded by receiving the Bob "Smokey" Dawson award and the Woods Medal for meritorious service with the club.
He was elected co-captain with Alex Georgiou in 2016, but was named sole captain in 2017 (15 games).
Bode led Norwood in the 2018 Grand Final, playing 17 games for the year and another nine games in 2019 for a total of 195 SANFL games and two State games.
In 2020 he retired from Norwood and moved to Payneham Norwood Union (Division 1, Adelaide Footy League) as a playing coach.
In 2021 he signed with the Port Adelaide Magpies as a top up player where he played another three games to reach the 200 game mark and qualifying for SANFL player life membership.
Jace's father, Olaf Bode, played four league games for Norwood in 1986 and 24 for South Adelaide (1987-1988).
R. Cialini December 2022