Senior Cam Rayner (2017-)

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Staying 'mum' on being No.1: How Rayner dealt with draft pressure

Being chosen as the first pick in the national draft comes with inherent pressures, and a man that's been through it has some advice for this year's top prospects.

It's been almost three years since Cam Rayner had his name read out first by Brisbane at the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, and the happy-go-lucky Lion concedes the expectation that came with it played on his mind.

After signing a contract extension that will keep him at the Gabba until at least the end of 2023, Rayner told AFL.com.au he had to learn to worry about the things he could control.

The recently turned 21-year-old said Brisbane had a big role in ensuring he coped with the external pressures.

"It wasn't in my head as much, but I think subconsciously it was, if that makes sense," he said.

"I was probably putting a bit more pressure on myself than I needed to.

"It's (pressure) always going to be there, but I can't control it, it's out of my hands.

"The best thing the club did was not talk about it.

"Every single first year player, there was no difference from me at one, Zac Bailey at 15 and Starce (Brandon Starcevich) at 18 … no difference, everyone was on an even playing field."

Rayner had a terrific first season, playing all 22 games, kicking 20 goals and being a constant threat in Brisbane's forward half.

However, he conceded he didn't come back in the greatest shape for his second pre-season – "it was the bump on the head I needed".

One ace Brisbane had up its sleeve was the recruitment of Luke Hodge, also a No.1 pick, and someone who had mentored Rayner since the day he walked into the club.

Brisbane football manager David Noble said the combination of Hodge and coach Chris Fagan was a calming influence on the popular Victorian.

"In those young guys … some of it takes time to understand how to deal with pressure," Noble said.

"They don't have skills to deal with it straight off the bat. Cam's done that over time.

"He was able to use Hodgey in a mentoring capacity. Hodgey spent time with Cam to help him with expectations and the external requirements and rhetoric.

"He's matured and understood his capacity to influence this group.

"Fages talked to him about his journey and path being different to other number ones.

"I think the older hands with Fages and support with Hodgey … I think that helps disperse pressure of him thinking he's got to do more than he has."

Rayner had his struggles in 2019, learning how to use his strength and power, Noble said, before developing significantly in 2020.

He's kicked a goal in each of Brisbane's four finals over the past two seasons and shown his ability to stand up when it matters most.

Rayner said this year's top draft selection should embrace the day – just as the club should embrace them, and their family.

"The main thing is you have to enjoy the day, the week," he said.

"You feel like a rockstar rolling around, first time you see the big cameras, you've got everyone there you love.

"But once you get to the footy club, you’ve got to switch your mindset.

"Being away from my family was going to be a problem at the start of my career, but quickly when I got up here they made me feel so welcome.

"The main reason was the amount of work the club did with my family back home.

"They always kept mum and dad in the loop and that meant a lot.

"They remember grandma's name, grandpa's name, it made me feel so welcome.

"If my family felt welcomed it made me feel so much better."

Rayner has now played 63 of a possible 65 games in his three seasons, missing two matches with a hamstring problem this year, and looks ready to explode in Brisbane's dynamic forward line.

He's settled in Brisbane, comfortable with his stature as the No.1 selection and improving physically all the time.

"We forget he's only 21," Noble said.

"Because of his mature size, you think he should be delivering more … he's still learning his own strength and own capability.

"His thirst for improvement has been so impressive. He's got great power to get from contest to contest, that's the thing we've seen shift."

Rayner says it feels like his three years have flown by.

"When I got to the club we weren't going so well. Now I've seen individuals grow and the team grow.

"I get to play with my best mates.

"Hopefully we can come full circle and win a premiership."
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'We've got unfinished business'
Cam Rayner was one of several Lions to return to Brisbane early in a bid to atone for last season's missed opportunity.

LAST year it was 2019's straight-sets finals exit which spurred Brisbane in its pre-season. Twelve months on a different heartbreak is the Lions' motivation for 2021. Brisbane snapped two big hoodoos in 2020, winning its first final since 2009 and ending a 14-game losing run to Richmond in the process. But with a home Grand Final just one step away, the Lions were defeated by Geelong in a preliminary final at the Gabba and it's a missed opportunity which still stings.

Small forward Cam Rayner was just one of several Lions who opted to return to Brisbane early, giving up a rare chance to spend time with family in Victoria in the process. "Even though it's good to go down for a week and see my family in Melbourne I felt like this year would be better if I stayed up here and trained with the boys," Rayner said. "My family understood that as well. They love having me come down there for a week but I pretty much came straight back here and got to work. "We've got unfinished business from last year and we really want to work towards that."

The 21-year-old is yet to watch the 40-point loss to the Cats but says using the disappointment of that defeat as motivation had been discussed almost as soon as the team had come off the field. "We spoke about it. We know what we did wrong and we know what we've got to fix," he said. "There's things we're going to try and change this year and I think we're putting things in place to do that now."

Rayner has also hailed the inclusion of Joe Daniher, with the former Essendon spearhead making an immediate impression on his new teammates. "He's fitted in straight away. I remember the first time he came out, had a couple of beers with us once the trade went through and got to know us really well," Rayner said. "He's been awesome. Fitted in seamlessly. He's doing very well."
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Get around him!!!!!

Keep him busy like the Suns did with Rowell

Good kid with a great attitude, universally liked would be a good mentor to the 1st and 2nd years.
 


Cam Rayner is likely to miss the remainder of the season after scans on Tuesday confirmed a ruptured ACL. Rayner sustained the injury in the second quarter of Monday night’s win over the SUNS in the AAMI pre-season competition.

GM of Football Danny Daly said the injury occurred in Rayner’s right knee after an awkward landing. “It is terrible news for Cam and really disappointing for the team,” Daly said. “He will see a surgeon in the coming weeks and we will then lay out the next steps from there. “Our thoughts are with Cam and we will wrap our arms around him and continue to support him as he gets on with his recovery.”
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Confirmed; just devastating news for Cam and the club.

Here's to a speedy recovery.
 
Wow. Not good to see at all.

These ACL's sometimes look so innocuous. It looked like nothing in it just like Naitanui's both times. A little sideways movement you see a hundred times a game but on this occasion he gets injured.

Not the worse thing happening in the world ATM but good luck to him in his recovery. :thumbsu:
 

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a mayes ing said:
It said that he would meet a surgeon in the coming weeks to discuss options. Thought they usually get surgeries done asap. Is there much of a discussion anyway? Just a traditional ACL surgery.
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They need to wait for any swelling to go down before they can do any surgery anyway.
And that can take some time.
 
a mayes ing said:
It said that he would meet a surgeon in the coming weeks to discuss options. Thought they usually get surgeries done asap. Is there much of a discussion anyway? Just a traditional ACL surgery.
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Yeah, I was surprised that there didn't seem any sense of urgency...is it a case of letting the swelling and bruising settle before surgery perhaps?
 
Sorry for my ignorance but who was the other guy (not Noah Answerth) that Cam was speaking to?
 
T Rick said:
Yeah, I was surprised that there didn't seem any sense of urgency...is it a case of letting the swelling and bruising settle before surgery perhaps?
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He posted a video of himself gingerly trotting with his dog. Very surprising, however would suggest that any swelling, bone bruising or damage to the meniscus is limited or non-existent.
 
There was an article I remember reading from the Lions that our rehab staff like to get injured players moving ASAP after injuries, IIRC they specifically mentioned running the next day after hamstring tears, I'm sure they use the same method with knees... although it would be on a case by case basis.
 
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