Brisbane Brownlow Medallist and premiership star Jason Akermanis says Cam Rayner has no excuses to not perform every week

Cam Rayner was electric two weeks ago but went missing in the Lions’ loss to the Cats. It is this inconsistency that Brisbane champion Jason Akermanis says he has no excuses for anymore.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Cam Rayner of the Lions in action during the 2024 AFL Round 06 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on April 20, 2024 in BRISBANE, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brisbane champion Jason Akermanis has urged No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner to “be better” as he challenged the Lions coaching box to adjust its game plan after a 2-4 start to the season.

The Lions were out-coached by Chris Scott and his assistant coaches last Saturday night, with Tom Stewart concussed on halftime, yet the Cats found a way to release Zach Guthrie to play free behind the ball.

Brisbane has long had a rigid game plan, with players are not able to adjust on the fly midgame to rectify areas of concern.

Akermanis said in commentary on Saturday night after watching the Lions loss: “The guys who sit up in that (coaches) box concern me”.

A week after dominating against Melbourne, Cam Rayner regressed in the Lions’ loss to Geelong. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Contacted this week, Akermanis expanded on his issues and said it was not too late to free Charlie Cameron and get more consistency from Rayner, who was brilliant in the victory over Melbourne but regressed with only seven kicks and 14 possessions against Geelong.

“Cam Rayner, who was really good a couple of weeks ago, is a big, explosive, strong body,” he told this masthead. “There are no excuses for him. He needs to be dominating (games) – not just a quarter, but a full game. His inconsistency is hurting him, he is too good a player to (be) let off the hook. (I would say) ‘Mate, you have got to be better, you are a No.1 draft pick, you have got everything – height, strength, your engine has been built, they have given you midfield time. Be better.

“You could see how well Geelong did when they replaced Stewart with another soldier who did just as well. Brisbane are super with plan A. They win most weeks with that. There is a plan B with some tweaks, but plan C needs to be a real magnet-throwing exercise.

Former Lions champion Jason Akermanis has never been shy in voicing an opinion. Picture Lachie Millard

“The reason you do it – as a coach – after so much sustained success, is you have to find out stuff. Chris (Fagan) is downstairs (on the bench), but I am not sure of the creativity of who is in the box? As an assistant (coach), you can be too safe. You have to have some balls.

“You can see the way Brisbane is playing is not as adventurous as it should be.”

Akermanis believes the Lions must release Cameron up the ground at times after a quiet start to the 2024 season, with only eight goals in six games.

“What are you doing with Charlie? (He) has said publicly about going up into the midfield that it hurts when (he) comes back forward and loses speed and strength. So that’s why they don’t do it, but with Charlie – on a wet night when no one is kicking goals – get (him) up around the ball,” Akermanis said.

“Jarrod Berry and (Hugh) McCluggage are one-paced runners with super engines, but when you aren’t generating shots (at goal) and you can’t get Cameron one-on-one you have to tweak it.”

The Lions take on a depleted GWS Giants – missing Sam Taylor (concussion), Toby Greene (suspended) and Stephen Coniglio (knee) – in Canberra on Thursday night.