Senior Cam Rayner (2017-)

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We'd win a couple of flags over the next three to four years if this man got fit enough to average 20 disposals a game. He was exactly what we needed more of in the middle yesterday, but obviously doesn't have the tank sadly.

Still love him as a player, but a 15 disposal and 1 goal a game player is a role player. That's not someone you can rely on in big games to make an impact.
 
Dom PC said:
We'd win a couple of flags over the next three to four years if this man got fit enough to average 20 disposals a game. He was exactly what we needed more of in the middle yesterday, but obviously doesn't have the tank sadly.

Still love him as a player, but a 15 disposal and 1 goal a game player is a role player. That's not someone you can rely on in big games to make an impact.
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Hoping the penny drops for him like it did for say a Petracca or Walters. Has all the tools to be something really special but is at risk of becoming a ‘coulda been’.
 

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He needs to work hard over the coming off season as he has done in previous ones, but the upside trend is continuing since he has come back from his knee.

Yes he hasn’t exploded into a consistent A grade player. But if the trend continues I think it could come soon. Lots of hard work in between now and then for Cam though.
 
I just don't think he's a smart footballer. Doesn’t know how to get cheap footy, doesn’t know when to dish it off or when to go alone, doesn’t use the ball well, chokes set shots consistently

I think de Goey, Martin and Greene matured as footballers (and people) and this was as important to them taking the next step as it was getting their body right
 
Nathan Barley said:
I just don't think he's a smart footballer. Doesn’t know how to get cheap footy, doesn’t know when to dish it off or when to go alone, doesn’t use the ball well, chokes set shots consistently

I think de Goey, Martin and Greene matured as footballers (and people) and this was as important to them taking the next step as it was getting their body right
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To Cam's credit (as far as I know) he hasn't had to 'mature' as a person, otherwise known as stopping doing crimes (not including Dusty as he hasn't pled guilty to anything I'm aware of).
 
Unlikely duo fire up forward in Lions' intraclub

Cam Rayner excelled, spending a majority of his time in the midfield, while Zac Bailey was also at his elusive best around the contest.
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Brisbane Lions Announce Updated Leadership Group

The Brisbane Lions have also selected a nine-person leadership group for the 2024 season.

Rounding out the group is Charlie Cameron, Cam Rayner, Brandon Starcevich, Jarrod Berry and Oscar McInerney.
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Why former No.1 pick is ready for new Lions role

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IS THIS the season Cam Rayner plays a more prominent role in Brisbane's midfield?

On the eve of their Opening Round match against Carlton at the Gabba, Lions coach Chris Fagan has hinted the No.1 pick from the 2017 draft might be about to spend a larger chunk of minutes onball.

Since arriving at Brisbane over six years ago, Rayner has been projected as a powerhouse midfielder that could change games.

However, with a settled rotation close to the contest, the 24-year-old has spent a majority of his 113 games playing as a medium-sized forward.

Twelve months ago he was deployed at half-back to start the season, before that plan was shelved following a match-winning four-goal haul against Collingwood on Easter Thursday.

However, with his running capacity now greatly improved, Rayner is ready for the jump.

“He's playing a bit more midfield time and we'll roll with that," Fagan said.

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"He's got better endurance now. He's still not an endurance beast, but he's worked on that enormously, enough to be able to play good minutes in the midfield, which is all that's required.

"His value is his power around the stoppages and the things he can do there.

"We're really pleased with how he's developed."

Rayner was set to increase his midfield time in 2021 before rupturing his ACL in the pre-season, and has certainly been used there in small bursts the past two seasons.

"I'm not going to say I'm the best runner, but if I can bridge the gap to what it's been recently, it's something I want to work on," Rayner said.

"I feel fitter and stronger in the (pre-season) games this year than I have, so I guess that's a plus."

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Rayner will likely still spend a good chunk of time in Brisbane's potent forward 50, but with Darcy Gardiner expected to fulfill a role alongside Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, Fagan now has more flexibility with Rayner.

"We've been trying to build a little versatility in our team," Fagan said.

"You never know in a game when you might need to flip somebody over."
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Eight things we learned: Fresh faces breathe life into Crows

4) Rayner thrives in the middle

In Brisbane's important win over Melbourne on Thursday night, it was Cam Rayner setting the tone through the middle of the ground. In the first quarter alone, Rayner gathered 12 disposals, six clearances and seven inside 50s, and proved crucial in giving his side confidence early in the game. As the game wore on, the balance between he and his fellow midfielders in Josh Dunkley and Lachie Neale became more evident, but that early dominance from Rayner was key in taking away Melbourne's main asset – its onball brigade of Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, and Clayton Oliver. Rayner finished the game with 10 inside 50s from 25 disposals, and proved his value roaming higher up the ground for longer periods of time. – Gemma Bastiani
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Brisbane vice-captain Josh Dunkley calls on Cam Rayner to produce first-class midfield performances regularly

Lions star Josh Dunkley has challenged Cam Rayner to deliver consistently strong midfield performances to cement his spot in Brisbane’s engine room.

The versatile Rayner was outstanding last Thursday night in Brisbane’s 22-point win over Melbourne with a midfield effort that included 25 disposals, nine of which were clearances.

Rayner’s MCG display raised his hopes of being shifted more often from the forwards to Brisbane’s star-studded midfield.

However, Dunkley said Rayner had to produce similar form regularly during his midfield spells for the positional switch to occur more regularly.

“It’s pretty special what he can do as a player,” the Lions vice-captain said ahead of Brisbane’s battle with the undefeated Geelong at the Gabba on Saturday night.

“Consistency and all that comes into it now for him, and if he wants to get more midfield time, we want to see those behaviours more often.

“It’s great that he could start like that (against Melbourne) and show us what he’s capable of.

“A game like (that) will go a long way to helping him with his confidence levels, and knowing that he can do it against the best is going to be real important.

“When he gets his chance (in the midfield), I’m sure he will take it like he did (against Melbourne) and we look forward to getting him in there more.”
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Lions ready to recapture their best

Cam Rayner says he and his misfiring Brisbane forward line teammates need to get back to basics to recapture their best form against Gold Coast on Sunday night.

Rayner was one of many Lions roundly criticised following last week's 54-point loss to Greater Western Sydney, with Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron also questioned for their effort.

Just three matches ago, Rayner played one of the best games of his career in a powerful win over Melbourne at the MCG. That night he gathered 25 disposals, and has racked up 23 (with two goals) in the subsequent fortnight.

"It's hard for me to come out and say I can play like that every week, the AFL is hard," Rayner said prior to Brisbane's main training session on Thursday morning.

"The hardest thing to find is consistency.

"The thing I want to focus on is … doing the things I can do consistently without the ball, and that's probably the thing that's let me down the last couple of weeks.

"I want to make sure I tidy that up."

Brisbane's forward line has had trouble converting its opportunities, ranked 18th for goals per inside 50 and also ranked 18th for shot at goal accuracy.

They are also one of the worst teams in the competition, 15th, for contested ball differential inside 50.

Rayner put the onus on himself to apply more defensive pressure and stand up in "moments".

"We can't shy away from the fact we've had opportunities to kick goals and missed them at important times," he said.

"In the AFL, momentum is such a big thing, and if you lose that, it can get away from you pretty quickly."

Daniher missed Thursday's session with illness, but the club is in no doubt he'll line up against the Suns.

Rayner said the Lions expected nothing out of the ordinary from their under-fire forwards.

"I know this is pretty simple, but I'm expecting them to come out and play their role and that's what we haven't been doing recently and that's why we've been a little bit below par.

"We don't expect Charlie and Eric and Joe to come out and kick five goals every week because … we can't expect that from anyone.

"It's a team game, we need to make sure we get our roles filled and if we get our roles filled as a team that should help those blokes play better up forward."
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Was surprised for a bloke who was ranked 3rd worst player for Brisbane today (only the sub and the subbed off were ranked lower), Rayner was all beaming smiles and happy chatting with multiple Hawks players after the game. Someone needs to tell him he is supposed to be gutted at such a loss and his own bad performance. He gets selected every week for no apparent reason. Certainly not based on performance.
 
GEEitLONG said:
Was surprised for a bloke who was ranked 3rd worst player for Brisbane today (only the sub and the subbed off were ranked lower), Rayner was all beaming smiles and happy chatting with multiple Hawks players after the game. Someone needs to tell him he is supposed to be gutted at such a loss and his own bad performance. He gets selected every week for no apparent reason. Certainly not based on performance.
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Generally I am happy enough for our players to exchange some comments with opposition players even after a loss. However Rayner carries on like it was no big deal to him that we lost and he’s had a shocker. He doesn’t appear to have any comprehension that he’s let him self and the team. It just doesn’t seem to bother him.
 
Ah Chee whiz! Cal the hero as Lions stun Swans

Cam Rayner is on the rise

We've seen flashes of brilliance regularly throughout his seven seasons at the club, but Cam Rayner played arguably one of his top three games in Lions colours. Building nicely since the mid-season bye, the former No.1 draft pick exploded in the high pressure contest, kicking two goals from 20 disposals that also included two goal assists. He picked off a Nick Blakey kick to set up an early Joe Daniher major and then burst through a Dane Rampe tackle to kick his own. Rayner's third quarter goal from a stoppage where he swatted aside multiple Swans before drilling the shot from 45m was out of the top shelf. A powerhouse that could not be tackled, this is the version of Rayner the Lions hope becomes the norm.
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Nine things we learned: This Lion is a premiership wildcard

2) This Lion is a premiership wildcard

For seven seasons, No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner has teased with his limitless talent, occasionally exploding with flashes of brilliance. Teased, then exploded. Coming off a fifth-place finish in Brisbane's best and fairest last year, we just might be entering the prime of the young Lion's career. In a finals-like cauldron against Sydney, Rayner was unstoppable with his ability to break tackles in congestion and explode to the outside, kicking two goals and giving off two others from his 20 disposals. His second goal, where he swatted aside multiple Swans before sizzling a kick from 45m, was breathtaking. His form has been steadily improving since Brisbane's mid-season bye and has the capacity to raise the Lions' ceiling come September, should they make it that far. – Michael Whiting
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Senior Cam Rayner (2017-)

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