Mature-aged Brisbane recruit Bruce Reville will make his AFL debut in Sunday's QClash against the Gold Coast Suns.
Reville, a product of the Lions' Academy program, joined the club's AFL list as a category B rookie at the end of last year's draft period following a strong season at VFL level with Brisbane.
The 23-year-old continued his strong form in the early rounds of this season, averaging 21.8 disposals, 6.0 marks, 3.8 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game at the level across five appearances.
The Papua New Guinea-born utility is a high-pressure player with a balance of size and speed.
โWhen Fages (Chris Fagan) told me I was playing I couldn't get any words out for a little bit, I was pumped up and just over the moon about it,โ Reville said in a club announcement.
โI guess I feel kind of relieved in one way to have finally made it, it's quite emotional really.
โA lot has happened for me to get to this point, from working multiple jobs and making a lot of sacrifices from me and my partner to try and pursue an AFL career.โ
Reville's inclusion comes as the Lions prepare to welcome ruckman Oscar McInerney back from concussion, while Callum Ah Chee will make due to a hamstring injury.
Reflecting on his journey to the top flight, where he spent time in an abattoir and as a forklift driver for Bunnings, Reville expressed his excitement to take the next step in his career.
โThere were a lot of days where you have a lot of time to sit there and think, and the last thing I wanted to be doing was cutting meat or driving around a forklift,โ he said.
โI think that's why I worked so hard to get to this position because I knew it's not what I wanted to be doing in life.
โI also did a bit of diesel mechanic work, which I wanted to follow as a career, but I put that aside to concentrate on footy.โ
Reville becomes Brisbane's first debutant of the 2024 season.
The Lions will host the Suns at the Gabba on Sunday at 7:10 pm (AEST).
