Oliver Caffrey, AAP
If any player defines the Chris Fagan era at the Brisbane Lions, it’s Cam Rayner.
Fagan’s unwavering faith in Rayner is paying off in spades as the Lions prepare for a second successive grand-final appearance.
The talent has always been there, it’s just taken the 24-year-old longer to reach the heights expected of a number 1 draft pick.
At times there were calls to drop him to the VFL – which never happened – or commentators argued the Lions should trade him while he had value.
But when he bombed an extraordinary goal – off his non-preferred foot – to seal a classic preliminary-final win against Geelong on Saturday night, Rayner truly came of age.
The moment will be replayed by the Lions faithful for the rest of time, especially if they salute in Saturday’s grand final against Sydney to atone for last year’s defeat in the decider.
But Rayner, who started his career at Hillside, had to be nurtured to become a player capable of greatness.
In his debut season, he was left devastated after missing what likely would have been a match-winning shot late in the game against North Melbourne.
The low-key game at the Gabba was a far cry from the electric atmosphere last Saturday when Rayner delivered in front of 93,066 fans at the MCG.
Instead of taking his time with a drop-punt, the then first-year player attempted a snap and never looked like kicking the goal.
Walking off the field that day in August 2018, Fagan consoled the then-teenager by putting an arm around him.
“I was pretty glad he had the ball in his hands in the dying stages to win a game of footy and, as a lot of our young players did, they stood up,” Fagan said in his post-game press conference at the time.
“They might have made some mistakes during that period but it will stand them in good stead down the track, and I’m sure Cam Rayner in his career at this footy club will make up for that one over and over again.”
Rayner paid tribute to Fagan immediately after the Lions progressed to the grand final: “He backs us in and we back him in.”
