Cameron Rayner has been reminded not to care for the public perception of his AFL finals campaign as Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan defended his game-breaking talent.
Fagan also admitted a hobbled Eric Hipwood was playing through the pain, and praised the misfiring forward's output ahead of Saturday's MCG preliminary final with Geelong.
Former No.1 draft pick Rayner has shown glimpses of his best this season, dominating against Melbourne in round six, then stringing together nine consecutive games with at least one goal, including six in a row with at least two.
He then booted three majors in a dynamic first half against Carlton to begin the finals series, but was limited to eight touches and two clearances in Saturday's defeat of Greater Western Sydney.
"The expectation is that Cam's going to be the best on the ground every time he plays, that's what it feels like, and when he has a quiet one we all come down on him like a ton of bricks," Fagan said on Thursday.
"He contributed some good stuff last week. It wasn't his best game, he played a brilliant game the week before.
"He plays an important role for the team."
It continues the message sent from Fagan and his staff, including former Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin, about selflessness in September.
"I don't want my players getting caught up in 'what's the world going to think of me and my performance?'," Fagan said.
"It's all about giving yourself to the team in finals and doing what you need to do at any given moment.
"Individual brilliance is not a focus at the moment. He (Rayner) will get himself ready to play the best game he can play."
Fagan also defended Hipwood, who has kicked just three goals in his past six games and missed a set shot from directly in front against the Giants.
The left-footer has been used in different roles to cover injury this year, but Fagan said he was battling soreness of his own that had impacted his performance.
"Is he at his best? No he's not, but he still plays an important role for us," Fagan said.
"Handball for (a Jaspa) Fletcher goal, kicked a goal himself (against the Giants).
"He halved a lot of contests; those sorts of things don't come up on the stat sheets, but we recognise them because it enables others to win the ball.
"He does some really important things for us and is doing a great job."
Lachie Neale has managed heel soreness for the back half of the season but trained on Thursday and is no doubt for the Cats clash.
Geelong missed the 2023 finals series - last year's beaten grand finalists Brisbane are the only team to contest the last six - but won the flag in 2022 and have reached this stage in 13 of the past 18 seasons.
The Cats thumped Brisbane in 2020 and 2022 preliminary finals, and the Lions have not beaten Geelong in Victoria since 2004.
