Cameron Rayner

Last updated

Cam Rayner
Cameron Rayner 2018.2.jpg
Rayner in August 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-10-21) 21 October 1999 (age 25)
Original team(s) Western Jets (TAC Cup)/Hillside (EDFL)
Draft No. 1, 2017 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, Brisbane Lions  vs. St Kilda, at Etihad Stadium
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s) Forward/Midfield
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions
Number 16
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2018– Brisbane Lions 157 (154)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 18, 2025.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2] 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. [4] [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. [4]

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 St Kilda 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 Richmond at the MCG. [9] In the following round in the QClash against Gold Coast, 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 Fremantle at Optus Stadium. [10] Rayner had a chance to win the game against North Melbourne 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]

In a 2021 pre season clash against the Gold Coast Suns, Rayner unfortunately ruptured his ACL and would miss the entire season. [13]

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. [14]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season. [15]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals  
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds  
  H  
Handballs  
  M  
Marks
  #  
Played in that season's 
premiership team
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2018 Brisbane Lions 1622201414914829776520.90.66.86.713.53.52.43
2019 Brisbane Lions 162420251399022959520.81.05.83.89.52.52.20
2020 [a] Brisbane Lions 1617177858216751541.00.45.04.89.83.03.22
2021 Brisbane Lions 160–––––––––––––––
2022 Brisbane Lions 1624242121114235376561.00.98.85.914.73.22.34
2023 Brisbane Lions 16262317215153368102580.90.78.35.914.23.92.22
2024 # Brisbane Lions 1627312122918541494841.20.88.56.915.33.53.16
Career140135105102880018284583551.00.87.35.713.13.32.517

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 2017 AFL draft: Cameron Rayner on Dustin Martin, endurance and go-home factor by Daniel Cherny 22 November 2017
  2. 1 2 Cameron Rayner was once nicknamed ‘Hollywood’ and kicked 14 goals in a match SAM LANDSBERGER 24 November 2017
  3. ↑ "EDFL" . Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Rayner a Rising Star! 2 July 2018
  5. ↑ ‘S–t, am I good enough to be out here?’ AFL 2018: Brisbane Lion Cam Rayner on self doubt from The Mercury 21 April 2018
  6. ↑ Cameron Rayner stars in AFL Academy game from Brimbank North West 12 April 2017
  7. ↑ Australian Associated Press (24 November 2017). "AFL Draft: Brisbane Lions take midfielder Cameron Rayner with the number one pick". ABC Online. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. ↑ Australian Associated Press (26 March 2018). "Rayner a future AFL 'jet' for Lions: Hodge". SBS Online. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Mallinder, Terry (21 April 2018). "Brisbane Lions' No.1 draft pick starting to find his feet". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  10. ↑ McGowan, Marc (2 July 2018). "No.1 pick likened to Dusty the latest Rising Star". BigPond. Australian Football League. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. ↑ Rugari, Vince (4 August 2018). "Cameron Rayner misses game-winning goal as Kangaroos hold on against Brisbane Lions". Nine's Wide World of Sports . wwos.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Cam Rayner: I am Lion". lions.com.au. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "ACL confirmed: Gun Lion out for season after heartbreaking injury". AFL. 29 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Lion Kings: Fagan's heroes thrash Swans in GF shock". AFL. 28 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Cam Rayner". AFL Tables. Retrieved 30 September 2024.