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'Makes me so sad': AFL fans left gutted by distressing scenes

Chris Young
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Lions star Cam Rayner leaves the field injured during the AFL Community Series match against the Gold Coast Suns. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Lions star Cam Rayner leaves the field injured during the AFL Community Series match against the Gold Coast Suns. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) (via Getty Images)

An ACL injury to Brisbane young gun Cam Rayner has dampened the excitement of Lions fans with the AFL season little over a week away.

Rayner landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his left knee during Brisbane's pre-season hitout against the Gold Coast Suns on Monday night.

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The 21-year-old had scans on Tuesday to confirm the extent of the injury - with the Lions' worst fears confirmed in the afternoon.

Rayner's body language as he was helped from the ground on Monday evening spoke volumes long before scans confirmed the worst.

Former AFL great Dermott Brereton suggested Rayner knew straight away he was in toruble.

"He's distraught … I reckon he knows," Brereton said on commentary for Fox Footy.

Rayner was picked first by the Lions in the 2017 AFL Draft, playing 63 games and immediately making his mark as an attacking midfielder and forward.

Part of a core of young players who have helped turn around Brisbane's fortunes under coach Chris Fagan, former Lions forward Alistair Lynch told Fox Footy his absence would be a tough blow for the Lions.

"He's a young star around the club. They've been so happy with the way he's progressed through the pre-season," he said.

"The plan is, as we saw last week in the practice match and through the pre-season, big minutes in the midfield – and he's been doing extremely well.

"Fingers crossed the assessment that'll be done shortly and the scans that'll no doubt be done tomorrow is a positive one."

Lions fans devastated over Cam Rayner injury

Brisbane fans hoping to see the Lions repeat or improve on their impressive 2020 season, in which they won their qualifying final against eventual premiers Richmond before losing a preliminary final heartbreaker to Geelong, we're shattered by the Rayner injury.

The Lions fashioned themselves from cellar-dwellars to premiership contenders in recent seasons thanks to improvement from the likes of Rayner, Harris Andrews and Eric Hipwood, as well as boom recruits such as Lachie Neale and Charlie Cameron.

While gutted for the 2017 No.1 draft pick, Fagan is optimistic both player and club will take a positive approach to the disappointment.

Cam Rayner will have scans on his knee to determine the extent of his injury, which forced him from the field in Monday's pre-season match. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Cam Rayner will have scans on his knee to determine the extent of his injury, which forced him from the field in Monday's pre-season match. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"It will build his character ... I know he'll still continue to lead around our footy club," Fagan said.

"He'll try and find a way to make the most of this opportunity.

"They'll (teammates) be super disappointed for him, there's no doubt about that but in another way they'll probably be inspired to rise to another level hopefully.

"He is a good man, a very popular teammate.

"I know he'll be trying to find a way to influence the group."

The 2017 No.1 draft pick suffered a suspected ACL injury midway through the second-quarter of the Lions' 18.9 (117) to 13.11 (89) win over their Queensland rivals.

With AAP

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