Brisbane Lions wingman Bruce Reville to relish his maiden MCG appearance

Whether it’s as the substitute or in the top 22, Brisbane’s Bruce Reville is intent on again making a difference for the Lions on Saturday against Richmond.

Having tasted the MCG as a spectator, Lions “X-factor” Bruce Reville will relish the chance to play at the home of football for the first time on Saturday when Brisbane seeks to extend its unbeaten start to the AFL season with a win over Richmond.

Reville couldn’t have picked a better game for his maiden visit to the MCG last year when he was part of the 100,000-strong crowd that watched the Lions beat Sydney 60 points in the grand final.

And while that was good, Reville hopes Saturday will be even better when he makes his first appearance at the venue as a player, having held his spot in Brisbane’s 23-man match-day squad for a third successive game.

“I’m very excited,” the 24-year-old wingman said.

“The first time I went there to watch a game was the grand final last year, so I’ve got some good memories there and hopefully I can keep it going.

“It’s good to get some consistency week in, week out.”

Having made a major impact as a substitute in the Lions’ nine-point win over Geelong last Saturday, Reville is hoping to have a similar influence against the Tigers regardless of what role he’s asked to fill by Brisbane coach Chris Fagan.

Feels good to be back at the G ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cdNXLwL72Z

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) April 4, 2025

“I just want to start well, no matter when I’m starting, just play my role for the team, and hopefully bring a bit of `X-factor’ when I come out there,” he said.

“I’ve got a bit more confidence in my own game. so I can just relax when I’m out there, and just let my footy do the talking.”

Fagan was yet to decide whether Reville would again be Brisbane’s substitute or be part of the top 22.

“It’s not sustainable to be the sub every week,” the Lions coach said.

“You need game time, otherwise you lose your conditioning. They’re the decisions we make around that.”

Reville said the Lions were hoping for a better start against the Tigers after needing to overcome significant deficits in their wins over Sydney, West Coast and the Cats.

“We haven’t started the best in those games, so we just want to tidy that up a bit and get a full four-quarter game in, but the vibes are high, and we’re loving playing at the moment,” he said.

Reville also confident of another good showing from teenage forward Will McLachlan, who will make his second top-flight appearance after being called into the team to cover for the injured Kai Lohmann (ankle).

McLachlan kicked two goals in Brisbane’s 19-point round-two win over West Coast.

“You could see what he could do in his debut game He knows where the big sticks are, and just with his workrate to get up the ground, he’s a really complete player and he’ll add a lot to us up forward,” Reville said.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions wingman Bruce Reville to relish his maiden MCG appearance