The Brisbane Lions can count themselves lucky to have been positively influenced by Hawthorn premiership players in recent years.
Since 2018, Luke Hodge and Grant Birchall have enjoyed stints with the Queensland club, coinciding with their rise up the ladder.
Now a third flag-winning Hawk, Jack Gunston, finds himself a Lion and it is much to the delight of teammate Cam Rayner.
Rayner says the 225-game, 430-goal former Crow has already impacted at his third club, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and an abundance of skill.
“He’s been really good,” Rayner said of Gunston on SEN Mornings.
“We’ve had three different players come from Hawthorn.
“‘Hodgey’ came and his way was very in-your-face and very aggressive. ‘Birch’ was a little bit more step-back.
“‘Gunners’ is caring and wants to help evolve and grow the younger boys and add to the leadership at the club. He’s done that really well.
“It’s good that we’ve had two blokes from Hawthorn come into the backline but now we’ve got someone come into the forward line. Not only with his leadership but he’s still a really handy player, he’s a really smart forward, he can kick goals and have a real impact on the scoreboard.
“He’s a great bloke as well and we’re very lucky to have him.”
Gunston’s arrival after 11 seasons and three flags in brown and gold has greatly bolstered the Lions’ list.
His presence in the forward line has coincided with Rayner trying out a different role during the pre-season.
The former no.1 draft pick is being used off half-back, a shift which was floated by coach Chris Fagan - another with Hawthorn ties - prior to the ACL injury which wiped out Rayner’s entire 2021 campaign.
“It was in conversation for a while. I spoke about it with ‘Fages’ before I did my knee because we knew it was a position that we could see value there,” he added.
“There’s even times in games where we thought that if I had that experience and connection (to play there), that it could be an opportunity. Then obviously getting injured put that on the back burner for a bit.
“Coming back and getting a full pre-season in and feeling really fit, Fages was like, ‘This is the time of the year when we can try and change things and give it a bit of a mix up’. That’s what we’ve done, it’s just been an experiment.”
Rayner, who starred as a half-back flanker in under 15s and 16s when an All-Australian in the position, says he has been enjoying the shift over summer.
However, he insists the move to defence is not necessarily set in stone just yet.
“It’s been going pretty well, I’ve loved it. It’s a bit easier to see the ball and your player at the same time,” he said further.
“You kind of get the best of both worlds playing forward and back and I feel like playing in a defender in these games it’s easier to see what the forwards don’t like when you’re playing on them. I think that will make me a better forward as well.
“We speak at our club about playing multiple positions I think that’s so pivotal of the game at the moment. You’ve got to be able to play more than one position with the way it changes. If it’s an experiment that goes through the pre-season and that’s all it is, then I’ve got experience out of it and I’ll be happy with it.
“If it’s something we want to continue, I guess time will tell, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Rayner and the Lions will be in action in practice matches against Sydney (on Friday) and Geelong (March 2) before opening their 2023 campaign against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on March 18.