Payze was a runner up in the Magarey Medal and won the West Torrens 'Best and Fairest' award in 1986. He was then picked up by Essendon with the ninth pick in the 1986 VFL draft but returned to South Australia after being unable to break into the seniors. A wingman, he represented South Australia at the 1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival and played six times in all for his state during his career, included a match as captain in 1994.
After another failed attempt to launch an AFL career, at Richmond, Payze became a foundation player at the Adelaide Crows when they joined the competition in 1991. He however could only manage 14 appearances and continued in the SANFL, with the newly formed Woodville-West Torrens, with whom he was a premiership winner in 1993. By the time he retired in 1998, Payze had amassed 308 SANFL games and kicked 233 goals. He is a life member, life governor and wingman in the Woodville-West Torrens official 'Team of the Decade'.