EDFL: East Keilor signs Cameron Rayner’s brother Lockie for 2021 season
East Keilor has wasted no time strengthening its line-up for next season, signing an emerging star from a rival EDFL Division 1 club.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
East Keilor has secured an emerging star with AFL links from Essendon District Football League Division 1 rival Hillside.
Lockie Rayner has put pen to paper with the Cougars for next season after claiming the Sharks’ best and fairest and Team-of-the-Year honours in 2019.
The brother of Brisbane Lions young gun Cameron will reunite with former teammates Victor Micallef and Brandon Coletta at East Keilor.
Rayner was appointed co-captain at Hillside before the season was canned.
“He’ll bring a lot of experience,” Cougars coach Pat Christofi said.
“He’s developed quite well in the last three years and become a really good player.
“He’s stepped it up … and he’s still only 22 years of age I think.
“He’s got a lot of growth and developing to do, and he’s going to be around a lot of players who will help him do that. He won’t need to carry a side – all he’s going to do is play a role. He doesn’t need to play well for the side to win.
“I’d say Brandon Coletta was a big factor (in recruiting Rayner). They grew up together and have been good mates for many years.
“It was time for him to have a change and I guess he was looking for a new challenge.”
While the ruck is Rayner’s preferred position, Christofi said his new signing had the ability to make an impact in other parts of the ground.
“I believe he can play on three lines. That’s the advantage we’re going to have with him,” he said.
Christofi said Rayner came from a “good family”, with his father John a well-known figure in the Maryborough Castlemaine District League after a distinguished career with Talbot.
Cameron has made 47 appearances at AFL level after he was taken at pick No.1 in the 2017 national draft.
“Most of all, he’s a good person, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Christofi said.
The Cougars’ push for promotion to the EDFL’s top flight has been delayed amid the coronavirus crisis.
They were a raging flag favourite before the season was cancelled after landing ex-AFL player Marc Lock, Tim Bongetti, Paul Scanlon, Kevin Klix, Lachlan Calder, Coletta and Micallef.
East Keilor went down to Craigieburn in the Division 1 decider in Christofi’s first year at the helm.
“We’re looking to head to Premier Division, and that’s what we’ve said all along,” he said.
“It’s going to take a year longer because of the hold up, but we’re on our way there.
“We’ve definitely set ourselves up to have a very big 2021.”
MORE LEADER LOCAL FOOTY NEWS
HOW CORONAVIRUS HAS REALLY IMPACTED LOCAL FOOTY CLUBS
WHY CANCELLED SEASON WON’T STOP HADFIELD’S RISE
FORMER AFL HIGH-FLYER’S TOUGH COACHING CALL
GLENROY PREMIERSHIP COACH RE-SIGNS, LOOKS FORWARD