In the first round of the 2018 season, Cam Rayner made his AFL debut against St. Kilda at the Etihad Stadium and recorded eight eliminations including his first goal. Rayner was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award for Round 15 after contributing 19 eliminations and two goals to the Lions’ win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium. He finished this season with good statistics with an average of 0.9 goals in 22 games.
Cam and the Lions had a fantastic season in 2019, reaching the final for the first time since 2009 and finishing second overall in the AFL with 16 wins, just 1% behind Geelong minor premierships. His performance has declined to an average of just 0.8 in 24 games, which is 0.1 less than last season.
That season, Brisbane were knocked out of the final in straight sets at the Gabba, falling to eventual runners-up Greater Western Sydney by three points in the semi-finals after a late goal from Brent Daniels and eventual champions Richmond by 47 points. in their qualifying final. . The Lions became the first group to finish second on the ladder without qualifying for a preliminary final since Geelong in 1997.
The following year, Brisbane continued their success in 2019, finishing second on percentage at the end of the Home and Away season. That year, Rayner signed a three-year deal with Brisbane on November 5, keeping him with the team until the end of 2023. After a shaky start to the 2021 season, the Lions recovered their form and won seven consecutive games, finishing the year in the top four. In 2022, Brisbane again reached the final.
The Lions finished sixth with a win-loss record of fifteen wins and seven losses, and they hosted seventh-placed Richmond in a playoff final at The Gabba. The Lions beat the Tigers by two points in a 106-104 triumph after a tense game that saw 17 substitutions up. The Melbourne Demons were the opponents the Lions faced in the semi-finals. Against all odds, the Lions beat the defending champions by grouping them in straight sets with a score of 92-79 to advance to their second preliminary final.
