Senior Cam Rayner (2017-)

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Cam Rayner reminds me of Leigh Matthews in his prime. Same body type, same attributes and the same football smarts.



So exciting for us to have one of the genuine future champions of the AFL on our list.
 
Noticed watching him live that he's often used in the middle of the ground for that dangerous centering kick. Presumably because his marking is so good. A lot of responsibility on the kid but he seemed to handle it well yesterday.
 
No.1 pick likened to Dusty the latest Rising Star
RICHMOND'S premiership footballers had heard the grandiose comparison being lavished on the new kid on the block. Cam Rayner was anointed dux of last year's draft class, but long before that as a Dustin Martin clone, down to the similarly outrageous haircut and forward-midfield one-two punch.

The new Lion's No.1 tag made him an instant sledging target and never more so than against Martin's Tigers, who thrashed Brisbane by 93 points that day. "People were talking about me being like Dusty and the Richmond players were like, 'We've got Dusty in our team – we don't need another one'," Rayner told AFL.com.au with a laugh. "I just walked off. There wasn't much I could say. We had a win on the weekend (against Fremantle) and I was up and about and threw a bit more out there."

Not only did Rayner's Lions post their second win of the season on Sunday, but the 18-year-old scored the round 15 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination. His 19 disposals (11 contested), two goals, six score involvements, five tackles and four inside 50s represented arguably the best performance of his 14-game AFL career.

Rayner's nomination ensured he didn't follow in the footsteps of past No.1s Paddy McCartin, Tom Boyd, Jonathon Patton and Jack Watts in not being recognised in the award in their first season.

PAST 10 NO.1 PICKS
2017: Cameron Rayner (Brisbane)
2016: Andy McGrath (Essendon)
2015: Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
2014: Paddy McCartin (St Kilda)
2013: Tom Boyd (GWS)
2012: Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
2011: Jonathon Patton (GWS)
2010: David Swallow (Gold Coast)
2009: Tom Scully (Melbourne)
2008: Jack Watts (Melbourne)

It comes after the Western Jets product's draft peers predicted he would make the biggest impact out of all of them in 2018. So did the nomination tick a box for Rayner? "Yes and no. I do feel a little bit like you have to (get one as the No.1 pick), when you see other guys drafted around you doing it," he said. "But at the end of the day, I'm just out there playing my footy and I've been enjoying it and that's the main thing. "It's exciting to get it, but I'm more excited about the win – I'm thinking more about the bigger picture."

Rayner, who has re-signed until the end of 2021, has enjoyed being able to quietly start his AFL journey in a rugby league-obsessed state after the "chaotic" media attention before last year's draft. He has moved in with teammate Tom Bell, after initially living with club CEO Greg Swann, and is learning from the senior brigade – including 2001's No.1 selection Luke Hodge – about things like recovery and hydration.

Rayner even regularly lobbies Brisbane's national recruiting manager Steve Conole to recruit his best mate, Calder Cannons and Vic Metro star Curtis Taylor. But the teenager still appreciates his own place in draft history. "It was awesome to be in contention during that whole lead-up to the draft, then to get picked with the No.1 pick was unbelievable," he said. "Obviously it comes with a bit of pressure and that's the main thing I knew was going to happen, but there's pressure on every kid that gets drafted to do their best.

"When I took the time to look back and understand what had happened and saw some of the blokes who'd come before me, that was when I realised how much bigger a moment it was."
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Impressive for a first year to take responsibility and lift so emphatically after a down week. He has shown this year he has bucket loads of self belief and maturity.



Also good to hear Fages say he pipes up a fair bit in the meetings. Taking ownership already.
 

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Love it. By going public, he is stuck with it. If he was not happy he ould not have mentioned it.
 
Zorko on Rayner
Brisbane's All Australian midfielder Dayne Zorko believes comparisons between No.1 draft pick Cameron Rayner and Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin are fair but a tad premature.

Rayner's resemblance to Dusty in appearance and playing style became a major focus in the lead-in to last year's draft and it has raged on throughout his debut season. The 18-year-old scored the Round 15 AFL Rising Star nomination thanks to his 19 disposals (11 contested) and two goals in the Lions' drought-busting 55-point thumping of Fremantle in Perth.

It was Brisbane's first victory out West since 2010. Zorko referenced Rayner's fend-off, explosiveness off the mark, deceptive speed and forward pressure in his comparison between the teenager and the Richmond superstar.

"I'm not sure we can compare him to Dusty at the moment, but he certainly has attributes that could compare him to him," Zorko told RSN927. "But he'll develop into his own player with his own style with the more games he plays.
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What you didn't know about Cam
Before they were teammates at Brisbane, Toby Wooller and Cameron Rayner were mates from their time at Vic Metro. After Rayner was named the Round 15 Rising Star nominee, Wooller shares his experiences with his exciting Lions teammate, in an exclusive column.

What comes to mind when I think of Cameron Rayner? Energy and enthusiasm. He’s like that on the footy field, too — must be the sugar high from the packet of skittles he has before every game. He loves them. We’ve been teasing Cam a bit lately because he’s only washed his sheets once since we moved into Tom Bell’s house six months ago. But in all seriousness, I’ve known Cam for a few years now and he’s a ripping person. We met when we both played in the Vic Metro under-16 squad together.

He rocked up with big, long, frizzled hair, which is a bit different to what he has today. He was explosive and could do things not many others could — we’re quite different in that regard — but off the field, he’s kind and genuine. While he’s loud and outgoing, he’s a really great person. He loves getting to know everyone and doesn’t like it when someone is left out.

Cam was always a gun and we knew early on that he’d be a high draft pick. Halfway through last year, he was going through a good patch in the TAC Cup and was playing well for Vic Metro so by then I knew he’d be taken with the first pick. That was around the same time he took one of the best marks I’ve ever seen on the shoulders of Ed Richards when my Chargers took on his Jets.

Another amazing moment I remember was when we were playing for Vic Metro together and he collected the ball on the wing and strolled to half-forward and slotted a goal from 50 metres out — everyone knew he was a special talent.

Cam and Toby playing together for VIC Metro during the 2017 U18 Championships.
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We played at opposite ends of the ground as opponents but I did manage to tackle him once, which I’ve clearly held onto for a while. He’s been humble throughout the journey but I know he’d be secretly loving all the media attention and interviews. He’s definitely handled himself well.

Since sharing a house with him, I’ve realised that he’s also not the best cook I’ve seen. He likes to keep things simple (two chicken kievs and some potatoes). He also puts vegemite in his spaghetti and tomato sauce on just about everything.

If he can clean up his diet a little bit, he’ll be a star. I’ve stitched him up enough now. Cam’s not short on confidence but over the last two or three months, he’s come out of his shell around the boys. Everyone’s a bit quiet when you first rock up to a footy club but he’s really showing his personality in the last few months.

It’s been good fun hanging out with him each day. He’s always going to be that jokey personality but his hard work and eagerness to improve has really grown since joining a professional environment. I can’t wait to see his career unfold.
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Five talking points: Hawthorn v Brisbane
4. From the ridiculous to the sublime

Dayne Zorko and Cam Rayner added majors as the Lions began to win the one-on-one contests and consistently denied Hawthorn opportunities to move the ball freely. Rayner followed up with a cheeky goal off the deck in the third term and a classy finish in the final quarter that looked to break the Hawks and capped off an excellent day out for the No.1 selection from last year's draft.
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