Cam Rayner’s contract extension with Brisbane will see him earn close to $1 million combined across the final two seasons of the deal according to Sam McClure.
The Lions announced yesterday that their prized No.1 draft pick had committed to the club long-term, penning a two-year extension prior to playing a single game.
McClure told SEN Breakfast that a combination of factors – including a fear of another talented youngster departing the club – led Brisbane to lock in the former Western Jet until the end of 2021.
“The Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns in particular have been on the back of the AFL to try to extend the minimum tenure for a draftee from two years to four,” McClure said.
“There was some talk that it might go to three, but it has stayed at two. But they have handed him a two-year extension without paying a game.
“The first two years of a contract will be $100,000 a year – so he is $200,000 for two years minimum.
“Years three and four for Cam Rayner will be worth combined just under a million dollars – so you’ve gone from $100,000 a year to nearly $500,000 a year. That is simply because of two reasons – Brisbane don’t want him to go home and they have money to burn and they can afford it.”
McClure said that discussions were had between clubs and Rayner’s management prior to November’s draft regarding an immediate contract extension.
“The conversation with clubs – but particularly Brisbane who held the No.1 pick – was if we are going to take you, we want you have a contract that is beyond two years because they could afford a ‘Josh Schache situation’,” McClure said.
“Let’s not forget, Josh Schache was re-signed (for two years), everyone as talking about him leaving but he was re-signed midway through the year, but still left.
“Contracts don’t lock in anything, but these two individuals – Josh Schache and cam Rayner – seem very, very different, so I think Brisbane are very confident that he’s going to be a long-term player.”
Rayner’s commitment comes on the back of the re-signing of fellow young gun Hugh McCluggage, who is also under contract until the end of 2021. The next order of business for the Lions will be securing a new deal for rising star favorite Alex Witherden.