DRAFT prospect Cameron Rayner has shown his bag of tricks with a best-afield display in the NAB AFL Academy's 20th anniversary match at the MCG.
The explosive half-forward kicked three goals from 23 disposals and steered his side to a 46-point win.
The level two academy players (eligible for this year's draft) were split into two sides for the contest ahead of the Carlton and Essendon clash, with a select group of level one players (draft hopefuls for 2018) also added to the teams.
The squads were named after Joe Daniher and Jacob Weitering, two of the emerging stars in the competition and graduates of the academy in recent seasons.
Rayner was added to the academy last year after an impressive bottom-aged season when he booted 17 goals in eight games for the Western Jets, and the 187cm talent's marking, smarts around goal and power were on show in the game on Sunday.
His teammate and possible No.1 pick Jaidyn Stephenson also booted three goals and had 15 disposals in a role on the wing and across half-forward, while Jack Higgins gathered 19 disposals and kicked two majors in a typically hard-working display.
Higgins belies his shorter frame (178cm) to be able to out-mark and out-body opponents in the forward line when he is not winning clearances through the midfield, which gives him an important point of difference to other players his size.
Richmond father-son prospect Patrick Naish, the son of former Tiger Chris, had 17 disposals to continue his good form at the start of the season, and Sam Walsh was the best performed level one player with 19 disposals.
Midfield pair Lochie O'Brien (19 disposals, one goal) and Charlie Spargo (19 disposals, five clearances) were among the best for 'Team Weitering' in their defeat, while hardened on-baller James Worpel had six inside-50s in his 16 touches.
Ruckman Sam Hayes, who was an All Australian last year following a good under-18 carnival for Vic Metro, had 15 hit-outs and moved well around the ground in wet conditions while Rhylee West, the son of former Western Bulldog champion Scott, had 14 disposals and kicked a goal.
West is not eligible to join the Dogs as a father-son pick until the 2018 draft.
TEAM DANIHER 4.0 7.3 11.5 14.7 (91)
TEAM WEITERING 1.1 2.2 5.2 7.3 (45)
GOALS
Team Daniher: Rayner 3, Stephenson 3, Higgins 2, Richards, Lukosius, Dow, McLean, Crossley, De Koning
Team Weitering: O'Brien, West, D.Fogarty, Powell, Bytel, Brander, Khamis
BEST
Team Daniher: Rayner, Higgins, Naish, Stephenson, Walsh
Team Weitering: O'Brien, Spargo, West, D.Fogarty, Powell
