Kai Lohmann and Charlie Cameron ready to level up to defend Brisbane’s crown

There’s a bigger burden to be shared in Brisbane’s forward line this season, but their new Batman and Robin are ready to take the Lions back to the promised land, in their own, unique way.

For seven seasons Charlie Cameron has been the Gabba’s greatest entertainer.

Now, the Brisbane Lions’ superstar small forward says he is ready to share the stage with his heir apparent.

After a flag-winning campaign in which they combined for 80 goals and an 80-minute highlight reel, Cameron and Kai Lohmann – Brisbane’s own Batman and Robin – are ready to level up in the absence of Joe Daniher and steer the Lions back to the premiership promised land.

Cameron, 30, is one of the modern game’s great small forwards. His high-flying, angle-defying theatrics have helped weaponise the Gabba into a boisterous battleground that Brisbane’s foes are fearful of flying into.

Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann cause plenty of havoc up forward. Picture: Mark Stewart

And last season Batman found his Robin in the form of 21-year-old Lohmann who, with his shock of blonde hair and eagerness to excite, led the Lions’ forward-half revolution.

“He’s come a long way, young Kai,” says Cameron.

“He asks a lot of questions about his footy and how he can get better each session. He’s done a lot of the work on his own and I’ve just been there to help and guide when he needs.”

Brisbane’s partners in crime are like two peas in a pod. They train together, golf together and even go out for fancy dinners together – on the veteran Cameron’s dime, of course.

They say never meet your idols but in Lohmann’s case, landing at the same club as one of his childhood heroes was the best thing that could have happened to him.

“He’s just an unbelievable person to work with and someone I have always looked up to,” Lohmann says of Cameron.

“It has been pretty cool working with him so closely and him now being such a good mate, whereas four or five years ago I was watching him thinking, ‘wow, this guy is a star’.

“We’re very similar in the way we provide energy and play off instinct, I think that’s why the club has got us to work so closely together.”

It took three years for the penny to properly drop for Lohmann, who had struggled with injury and consistency and even contemplated a return home to Victoria at the end of 2023 after just eight games at AFL level.

His decision to stay and learn under Cameron, who he credits as the catalyst for his breakout 2024, proved a major boon for player and club.

Confidence is key in the small forward caper and with Cameron in his ear, Lohmann has never needed to second guess himself.

“Whenever I don’t back myself he will show me clips of what I could have done – ‘why didn’t you go here? You’re good enough to take that’ or, ‘you’re good enough to kick that’,” says Lohmann.

“He’s been a mentor to me and pretty much took me under his wing as soon as I got to the club. I watch him every day, watch what he does, how professional he is.

“I don’t know what you would call it, but we have a different connection on the field. I know what he is going to do, he knows what I’m going to do. It’s really special and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Cameron would prefer he gets less credit for Lohmann’s AFL arrival.

“He’s done most of the work himself, I’ve just helped with the little things that come with being a small forward,” he says.

Lohmann lit up the first half of the 2024 GF. Picture: Mark Stewart

“It can be quite challenging at times – sometimes you only get eight or nine touches a game, so it’s about making an impact when you do have the ball.

“I just spoke to him about doing the little things better like first gives, pressure and things that keep him involved: talking to teammates, celebrating the little things … that’s the big thing for me, celebrating with my teammates when they do something right and encouraging them because that keeps me engaged.”

Now 30, Cameron says he is a “more mature” player at this point in his career but he still knows how to connect with the younger generation.

He will often send Lohmann TikToks of NFL or NBA players and their various celebrations as inspiration for his young understudy’s post-goal exploits.

“It’s probably more for him now – I’m more mature now so I don’t really need to be doing those celebrations anymore,” chuckles Cameron.

“But Kai loves his celebrations. I know Motty (Darcy Wilmot) does as well. I think that helps the team, it brings energy and excitement. Seeing those young players be themselves within the team rules and boundaries is great.

“Kai’s energy around the team has been unreal and that is what we want to see from him. He brings that energy and enjoyment to the team but he also knows when to switch on and be serious and I think it’s a great balance that Kai has at the moment.

“He works hard. He’s probably one of the last off the track. He puts in the work and has his fun on the side.”

The AFL world got swept up in “Hokball” last year as the youthful Hawks, headed by Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson, became must-watch television by season’s end.

As Brisbane’s resident excitement machine Lohmann loves what the Hawks have done and says the Lions have the confidence and caliber of player to match their entertainment factor.

“I love what they’re doing down there, they’re so fun and energetic and it’s actually quite exciting, I always find myself wanting to watch them,” he says.

The two stars will play a big role in a Brisbane side missing Joe Daniher. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“We won’t be trying to copy them and they won’t be trying to copy us. But we have such a talented group in our own right with so many strengths and personalities.

“Young (second-year key forward) Logan Morris will join in. Hopefully we can start a little thing where we get people coming down to watch because they expect to see some fun celebrations and things.”

Another revolution is coming in 2025 with no Daniher to spearhead the reigning premiers’ attack but with Cameron, Kai and co. the Lions’ front half is not lacking for firepower.

“We know what we’re capable of – we’re a forward line that has damaging players everywhere,” says Cameron.

“Last year I think we had eight or nine (players) with over 20 goals so we have an ability to share the load and have multiple goal kickers in each game. I think if we had kicked straight last year, we would have been the No. 1 scoring team.”

Callum Ah Chee and Cam Rayner both produced career-best campaigns and dangerous medium forward Lincoln McCarthy is due back early in the season from an ACL injury that cut his 2024 campaign short just as the ex-Cat was finding peak form.

Morris was Brisbane’s feel-good debut story of last year when he debuted against the Suns with a belly full of Maccas and never looked back. His pre-season form has been electric and if he can shore up his sometimes wayward goal kicking, the 19-year-old will be a serious threat in front of goal.

Cameron remains one of the best small forwards in the game. Pic: Michael Klein

Zac Bailey put an up and down campaign behind him to hit form in September and has continued that into the New Year.

And don’t forget the man himself, Cameron.

The two-time all-Australian was critiqued like never before last year yet still finished the season with 44 goals to his name.

It was testament to the ridiculous high watermark he had set in previous seasons that the football world started to question whether Cameron’s best years were behind him despite finishing equal-11th in the AFL for goals.

This time last year he was playing catch-up after his pre-season preparations were heavily impacted by multiple dental surgeries to repair his teeth following the gruesome collision with Trent Cotchin in mid-2023.

“Yeah, pretty much everyone was saying I had a down year but I thought I had an impact in different ways besides the goals,” Cameron ruled.

“I was able to play higher (up the ground) last year compared to recent years. That might be a bit different this year without Joey (Daniher) but also having that consistency of a full pre-season as well.

“Last year was hard with those surgeries with the teeth and stuff. I’m in a better mindset as well. I’m ready to go.”

Originally published as Kai Lohmann and Charlie Cameron ready to level up to defend Brisbane’s crown