It's been nearly seven years since Brisbane Lions selected Cameron Rayner with pick 1 in the 2017 draft.
It was expected that the midfielder/forward would gradually develop into an elite midfielder in the AFL system - a development path the 24-year-old has not followed.
That's not to say Rayner hasn't been a matchwinner at times and shown why the Lions selected him as the top prospect in the 2017 draft.
But the knock on Rayner prior to being drafted was his endurance base and lack of consistency - arguably two factors that have still kept him from being a regular superstar in the AFL.
However in 2024, there have been signs of Rayner not only being an impact player up forward, but having a profound influence through the midfield.
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Cam Rayner's impact in win against Sydney
It was plain to see in Sunday's win against Sydney what Rayner can bring to the Brisbane outfit.
And it will be outright terrifying for the competition if he manages to put it together on a consistent basis.
With Lachie Neale struggling to have an impact under a tight tag from Luke Parker, Rayner was the player who stepped up to arguably win the game for Brisbane.
While Rayner only gathered 20 possessions, which is five above his season average of 15, his impact on the game was utterly profound and matchwinning.
Not only did Rayner kick two crucial goals, he also had two goal assists, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and six clearances in a dominant contested football display.
It was a regular sight to see the bustling forward/midfielder gather the football, break tackles and create scores for his team, much in the way Chad Warner has delivered for Sydney over the last 18 months.
Cam Rayner's best game of the season vs. Melbourne
Against Melbourne in round 5, Rayner arguably put together the most influential game of his career with 25 possessions, nine clearances and nine inside 50s in a tantalising glimpse of what he is capable of.
Despite not kicking a goal for the game, Rayner showed he was capable of putting his mark on a match without having a strong impact on the scoreboard personally.
However, in averaging only 15 possessions a game for the season, and only 13 a match for his career, it's fair to say that this kind of impact hasn't been happening enough.
Yet.
Cam Rayner can inspire Brisbane to a premiership
The signs are now positive for Rayner's career trajectory with these dominant games happening more often.
In the past four weeks, Rayner has kicked nine goals, when he had only kicked 11 in his previous 14 games this season.
The challenge for Brisbane is to now figure out how to get the best out of Rayner.
How much time should he play through the midfield?
Should he play exclusively at half-forward where he can push up into midfield and then run back toward goal?
Can he be isolated deep, despite the other focal points Brisbane possess such as Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, in a nightmare match-up for oppositions?
If you are an opposition coach, matching up on the Brisbane forward line is a nightmare if Rayner is on his game because you also need your smaller defenders to lock down on Cameron, the improving Kai Lohmann, while Callum Ah Chee also showed his danger with the match-winning goal against Sydney.
If Rayner can start producing more consistent football where he is impacting the game on the scoreboard, in the clearance and delivery inside 50, the Lions are going to be incredibly difficult to stop with their multitude of attacking options.
Over to you Chris Fagan to get the best out of Rayner and lead the Brisbane Lions to that elusive premiership.
