Cameron Rayner Explained

Cam Rayner
Birth Date:21 October 1999
Originalteam:Western Jets (TAC Cup)/Hillside (EDFL)
Draftpick:No. 1, 2017 national draft
Debutdate:Round 1, 2018
Debutstadium:Etihad Stadium
Height:187 cm
Weight:93 kg
Position:Forward
Guernsey:16
Years1:2018–
Games Goals1:140 (135)
Statsend:2024
Careerhighlights:

Cameron Rayner (born 21 October 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Rayner was born to mother Nicole, a primary school teacher,[1] and father John, a boilermaker, and raised in Sydenham in Melbourne.[2] The family were strong Essendon Football Club supporters and Cameron grew up idolising Matthew Lloyd. Rayner played junior football with the Hillside Football Club and Essendon Doutta Stars[3] in the Essendon District Football League winning six club best and fairest awards.[4] He made the under-12s Victorian squad, however was later dropped as he was considered too small a player. However he later went through a growth spurt and played for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup/Talent League.[5]

Rayner was selected in the AFL Academy in 2017 and despite splitting his toe open was dominant with a three goal performance for Team Daniher in the 20th Anniversary match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[6] He would back up this performance with a 3 goal game for Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 Championships, earning him a spot in the Under-18 All-Australian team.

He was drafted by Brisbane with the first overall selection in the 2017 national draft.[7]

AFL career

Rayner made his debut in the twenty-five point loss to at Etihad Stadium in the opening round of the 2018 season, recording 8 disposals including his first AFL goal.[8] In round 4, on what was a horror day for the Lions, Rayner was a shining light for the Lions, recording a career-best 22 disposals and kicking his side's second of 2 goals for the day in a 93-point loss against reigning premiers at the MCG.[9] In the following round in the QClash against, Rayner had a chance to draw the match right on the full-time siren, but he pulled his kick wide to the left for a behind and the Lions were defeated by 5 points.

Rayner received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 15 after kicking two goals and recording nineteen disposals in the Lions' win over at Optus Stadium.[10] Rayner had a chance to win the game against in round 20 after being awarded a free kick on a slight angle 30m from goal, but he attempted a kick around the body and his shot went wide to the right for a behind. The Lions lost by 3 points.[11]

On November 5, 2020, Rayner signed a three-year extension with Brisbane, contracting him until the end of 2023.[12]

Rayner was part of the Brisbane Lions 2024 premiership winning team, kicking a goal and having 16 disposals in a 60 point victory over the Sydney Swans.[13]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season.[14]

|-| 2018 || || 16| 22 || 20 || 14 || 149 || 148 || 297 || 76 || 52 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 6.8 || 6.7 || 13.5 || 3.5 || 2.4 || 3|-| 2019 || || 16| 24 || 20 || 25 || 139 || 90 || 229 || 59 || 52 || 0.8 || 1.0 || 5.8 || 3.8 || 9.5 || 2.5 || 2.2 || 0|-| 2020 || || 16| 17 || 17 || 7 || 85 || 82 || 167 || 51 || 54 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 5.0 || 4.8 || 9.8 || 3.0 || 3.2 || 2|-| 2021 || || 16| 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|-| 2022 || || 16| 24 || 24 || 21 || 211 || 142 || 353 || 76 || 56 || 1.0 || 0.9 || 8.8 || 5.9 || 14.7 || 3.2 || 2.3 || 4|-| 2023 || || 16| 26 || 23 || 17 || 215 || 153 || 368 || 102 || 58 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 8.3 || 5.9 || 14.2 || 3.9 || 2.2 || 2|-| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | 2024#|| || 16 | 27 || 31 || 21 || 229 || 185 || 414 || 94 || 84 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 8.5 || 6.9 || 15.3 || 3.5 || 3.1 || 6|- class=sortbottom! colspan=3 | Career! 140 !! 135 !! 105 !! 1028 !! 800 !! 1828 !! 458 !! 355 !! 1.0 !! 0.8 !! 7.3 !! 5.7 !! 13.1 !! 3.3 !! 2.5 !! 17|}

Notes

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

Notes and References

  1. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/2017-afl-draft-cameron-rayner-on-dustin-martin-endurance-and-gohome-factor-20171121-gzq594.html 2017 AFL draft: Cameron Rayner on Dustin Martin, endurance and go-home factor
  2. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/cameron-rayner-was-once-nicknamed-hollywood-and-kicked-14-goals-in-a-match/news-story/cbf9c6abf343d1b6267396895ea7bc12?amp Cameron Rayner was once nicknamed ‘Hollywood’ and kicked 14 goals in a match
  3. Web site: EDFL . 2023-09-09 . en-AU.
  4. https://www.lions.com.au/news/279084/rayner-a-rising-star Rayner a Rising Star! 2 July 2018
  5. https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/brisbane-lions-no-1-draft-pick-cam-rayner/news-story/9366e9aa481bcef9d46986d20f47ebef ‘S–t, am I good enough to be out here?’ AFL 2018: Brisbane Lion Cam Rayner on self doubt
  6. https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/cameron-rayner-stars-afl-academy-game/ Cameron Rayner stars in AFL Academy game
  7. News: AFL Draft: Brisbane Lions take midfielder Cameron Rayner with the number one pick. Australian Associated Press. 24 November 2017. ABC Online. 26 March 2018.
  8. News: Rayner a future AFL 'jet' for Lions: Hodge. Australian Associated Press. 26 March 2018. SBS Online. 26 March 2018.
  9. News: Brisbane Lions' No.1 draft pick starting to find his feet. Mallinder, Terry. 21 April 2018. Sunshine Coast Daily. 23 August 2018.
  10. Web site: No.1 pick likened to Dusty the latest Rising Star. Australian Football League. BigPond. Marc. McGowan. 2 July 2018. 2 July 2018.
  11. Web site: Cameron Rayner misses game-winning goal as Kangaroos hold on against Brisbane Lions. wwos.com.au. Nine's Wide World of Sports. Vince. Rugari. 4 August 2018. 24 August 2018.
  12. News: 5 November 2020. Cam Rayner: I am Lion. lions.com.au. 5 November 2020.
  13. Web site: Lion Kings: Fagan's heroes thrash Swans in GF shock. 28 September 2024. AFL.
  14. Web site: Cam Rayner. AFL Tables. 30 September 2024.