CAM Rayner's spectacular mark for the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night caught the eye of many. But Lions recruiting manager Stephen Conole had seen it all before.

Conole joins AFL.com.au's Road to the Draft podcast this week and discusses the process that saw Rayner chosen at No.1 in last year's NAB AFL Draft.

Was there a game that cemented him as that player for Conole? When did the club settle on the Victorian? What's it like to hold the top choice in the draft?

Conole, who has helped shape Brisbane's list into one of the most exciting groups of youngsters in the competition, also talks through the Lions' strategy as they edge up the ladder.

Find Road to the Draft on iTunes, Audioboom, Acast, Mixcloud or RSS.

In this week's episode ...

Callum Twomey and Nat Edwards are joined by Brisbane recruiting manager Stephen Conole. Conole chats about the growing optimism at the Lions, discusses the development of their exciting batch of younger players, their plans this off-season and the players they'll be targeting.

Episode guide

3:24 – Who shapes as Brisbane's top pick this year? We discuss this year's draft pool
6:20 – Will another Voss be joining the Lions? The guys chat about the father-son prospect
8:10 – When did Brisbane settle on Cam Rayner for the No.1?
13:00 – Why the Lions expected Hugh McCluggage to blossom this season
17:00 – We go behind the scenes to Luke Hodge's recruitment at the end of last year
25:10 – Is the doubt over Dayne Beams' future at the Lions warranted? 
28:12 – Conole's take on the wider recruiting issues facing the game