The Brisbane Lions will unveil their 10th debutant for the season on Saturday night, when rookie Jordon Bourke makes his first AFL appearance against Geelong.A Queenslander and son of former Bears ruckman Damian Bourke, he becomes the second player recruited from the Hyundai Lions Academy to play a senior AFL game.
Fellow Queenslander Jonathan Freeman became the first when he made his debut in Round 20 against the Crows.
Bourke sends the Lions’ debutant list into double figures with James Aish (Round 1), Lewy Taylor (Round 1), Michael Close (Round 1), Tom Cutler (Round 4), Nick Robertson (Round 4), Darcy Gardiner (Round 5), Zac O’Brien (Round 11), Daniel McStay (Round 15), and Freeman (Round 20) and also making their first appearances for the Club in 2014.
Bourke grew up in Coorparoo, only a stone's throw from the Gabba, and after progressing through the Hyundai Lions Academy, he made history by becoming the first ever Lions Academy member to graduate onto the Lions' official playing list.
Interestingly, Bourke will make his debut against the Club who could have selected him under the Father/Son rule at the 2012 National Draft.
The Cats passed up the opportunity to draft the AIS-AFL Academy graduate, who landed at the Lions with Pick No. 63 overall in the 2012 Rookie Draft.
Joining Bourke in the side will be Jackson Paine, Zac O’Brien and Matthew Leuenberger, who have all been recalled for the Lions’ final game of the 2014 season.
Leuenberger will make his first appearance for the Club since suffering a knee injury in the Lions’ loss to Port Adelaide in Round 4.
He returns to the side after a short stint in the NEAFL, which culminated in a four goal, 20 disposal game last weekend against the UWS Giants.
Paving the way for Bourke, Leuenberger, Paine and O’Brien are the recently retired Ash McGrath, Ryan Harwood (foot), Matt Maguire (ankle) and Michael Close, who has been omitted.
The Lions take on Geelong this Saturday night at 7.40pm at Simonds Stadium.
