Bruce Reville set to debut for Brisbane Lions

In what the Lions’ general manager has described as ‘one of those great football stories’, former forklift driver, meat worker and prospective diesel mechanic Bruce Reville will realise his dream this weekend. Read the full story:

Bruce Reville will make his debut for the Brisbane Lions this weekend in what the Lion’s general manager has described as ‘one of those great football stories’.

A former Maryborough junior Aussie rules player is set to make his long-awaited AFL debut for the Brisbane Lions this weekend.

Bruce Reville, 23, will play for the Lions on Sunday night against the Gold Coast Suns.

The Lions Academy graduate was born in Papua New Guinea and grew up in Cairns until age seven, before moving to Burrum Heads where he played under 9s for the Burrum Joeys.

He then played junior footy for the Maryborough Bears before officially joining the Lions’ AFL program as a Category B rookie on a one-year deal at the end of 2023.

Prior to that the utility was one of Brisbane’s regular best performers in the VFL since missing out on being drafted in 2019.

But when the moment did come to find out he would debut, Reville said he initially missed the call from coach Chris Fagan before calling back.

“When (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,” Reville said in an article published on the Brisbane Lions website.

“I guess I feel kind of relieved in one way to have finally made it, it’s quite emotional really.

“A 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.”

Bruce Reville will make his debut for the Brisbane Lions this weekend.

Mr Reville’s previous jobs included shifts cutting meat at a local abattoir, driving a forklift at Bunnings and delivering packages at Christmas for extra money.

“There 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,” Mr Reville said.

“I 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.

“I 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.”

Mr Reville said he wanted to repay the faith shown in him.

“I am not putting expectations on myself, I will go out playing my role, bringing my strengths to the team and keep doing what has been working for me,” he said.

Former Maryborough Bears junior Bruce Reville.

“There’s a lot of quality players around me so I just want to be a sponge and take everything in I can from them and keep learning and getting better.”

Brisbane Lions General Manager Football, Danny Daly said he was thrilled to see Mr Reville rewarded.

“The journey of Bruce Reville is one of those great football stories that any aspiring AFL player or anyone chasing their dream should look at,” Daly said.

“Bruce spent the best part of seven years in our Brisbane Lions Academy and playing at VFL level where he just kept persisting and wanting to get better.

“It was such a great feeling when we offered him a spot on our AFL list late last year and now to tell him he will make his debut is just really special for him and his family.

“He has done all of the hard work to earn this opportunity and everyone at the club can’t wait to watch him debut on Sunday night.”

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