Rayner handed 'staging' fine amid AFL crackdown

May 25, 2026

Brisbane Lions forward Cam Rayner has become the second player fined for "staging" in round 11 amid an AFL crackdown on one of football's dark arts.

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Rayner can accept a $1000 penalty for his flop in a ruck contest against GWS opponent Jake Riccardi on Sunday.

The No.1 draft pick in 2017, two-time premiership player Rayner received a free kick from the incident and booted a goal.

But he later came under scrutiny from the match review officer and was charged with a first offence of staging.

It follows Adelaide forward Josh Rachele receiving the same financial sanction for his dive against Hawthorn.

Rachele was pushed by an opponent and threw himself forward to the ground.

The AFL has to find a player guilty of excessive exaggeration in order to charge them with "staging".

GWS defender Connor Idun can also accept a $1000 fine, after he was charged with striking Brisbane forward Logan Morris.

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