Izak Rankine, a standout player for the Adelaide Crows, has been suspended for four matches following a homophobic slur directed at Collingwood’s Isaac Quaynor during the Round 23 match. This suspension puts Rankine on the sideline for the remainder of the current season. It counts against next season’s first round, making it impossible for his team to not feel his absence in the most important time to do so.
As Rankine completes his suspension, he has been forced these past few weeks to watch from the stands. Presumably, he fled the country to avoid the spotlight. His departure marred as a costly blow for the Crows. Channel 7 footy commentator and superstar full-forward of yester-year, Matthew Richardson, emphasized just how big a loss it was to lose such an integral player. Kilgore characterized Rankine’s plight as a costlier “self-inflicted“ wound for a team with higher stakes.
A star player like Izak Rankine has little to worry about. Whether playing in midfield or up front, he adds a lot of value. He is capable of scoring three or four goals in one quarter. Whether it’s outfield or on the mound, his versatility and skill on the field overall make him a very dangerous asset. Coach Matthew Nicks admitted it would be tough to replace what Rankine was able to do.
“Izak is, I think, one of the best players in the game, so if any team loses their best player then it becomes a challenge to replace that,” – Matthew Nicks
According to Coach Nicks, Rankine’s absence had no negative impact on the team. How the team kept the morale and mindset beyond what’s done on the field. He said he’s been blown away by the change in the group’s energy. He underscored the importance of Rankine in helping drive global performance.
“What it did do is change the dynamic of our group,” – Matthew Nicks
Matthew Richardson gave his take on the disappointing loss. He pointed out that Rankine’s absence left a huge void for the Crows in their finals campaign.
“You can’t hide away from the fact that Izak Rankine was an enormous out for this team in finals,” – Matthew Richardson
The Crows’ inability to fill the gap left by Rankine’s departure became painfully evident, especially in close games through their finals run. They sure could have used his scoring ability though. They missed his leadership and experience on the field.
Further reinforcing Rankine’s value to the Crows, opposing coaches are forced to focus on him first when game-planning against the Crows, according to Dale Thomas.
“And you think as an opposition coach when you come up against the Adelaide Crows, the first magnet you’d be most concerned about would be Izak Rankine’s,” – Dale Thomas
