Forward duo Will McLachlan and Sam Day will officially don the Brisbane Lions jumper for the first time at AFL level on Sunday against West Coast at the Gabba.
It will be a special occasion for both players for slightly different reasons.
Sunday will be a Club debut for Day who joined the Lions after playing 155 games as an inaugural Gold Coast Suns player.
Though for McLachlan, a 185-centimetre forward selected with pick 6 in the 2024 Mid-Season Rookie Draft from the Geelong Falcons, it will be his AFL debut.
Lions coach Chris Fagan told the playing group the news after training on Thursday.
“It has been hard earned; I mean your form over the pre-season games has been sensational,” Fagan said of 19-year-old McLachlan.
“The way you’ve trained all summer and the effort you’ve put into things is a great story.
“You arrived here in the middle of the year last year wondering what the hell hit you, and here you are Round 2 of the next season making your debut.
“Congratulations on that, it will be an exciting day for you and your family. It will be a day you never forget and most of all we want you to play really good football for us.”
McLachlan, who hails from the regional Victorian town of Colac, is regarded as having strong work ethic and a strong overhead mark with speed to burn.
The teenage forward is a consistent finisher in front of goal, proving this recently with nine goals from his last two pre-season matches.
“I just want to say thanks to Fages (Chris Fagan), DD (General Manager Football, Danny Daly) and all of the coaches,” McLachlan said in front of the playing group.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get out there with you boys and hopefully get another win on the board.”
Playing his first game for the Club on Sunday is almost a full circle moment for Day who played his first ever AFL game against the Brisbane Lions in 2011.
When telling the team the news about Day, Fagan touched on the forward being unavailable for selection last week due to his dad Chris passing away.
The Lions coach said he was ‘rapt’ for the 32-year-old veteran forward to get his chance at adding to his AFL games tally.
“Thanks everyone for the welcome (to the club), it has been an awesome few months,” Day said of his time as a Brisbane Lion.
“I am pumped and look forward to running out with everyone on the weekend.”
The Brisbane Lions will announce their full final team at 4pm AEST today.
