Adelaide Crows forward Izak Rankine has enjoyed a week-long overseas trip. Considering his recent four-match suspension, maybe the kid’s looking to get away from the media glare. He is alleged to have directed a homophobic slur at an opposition player during last week’s game against Collingwood. As a culmination, the league enacted a prohibition, sparking enormous uproar in the Australian Football League (AFL).
The AFL determined that Rankine’s initial five-match ban would be reduced to four matches based on “compelling medical submissions” related to his mental health. Despite the short duration of this reduction, the incident has heightened serious concerns regarding player conduct and accountability within the league.
Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks has assured that the club has surrounded Rankine with adequate support. He reiterated that there can be no excuses at all for what he has done.
“Izak has got some great support around him,” – Matthew Nicks
What made the incident particularly controversial was when it happened, just days before finals. Yet AFL CEO Andrew Dillon explained that the timing was not a factor that affected the decision made to ultimately give Rankine his suspension. His 30 minute talk was indeed brilliant, but he did not go into detail on the actual medical submissions. These submissions were instrumental in having Rankine’s ban lifted.
To that end, Rankine will be housed at a training center in Europe during his suspension. That said, he is training as if for a possible return should the Adelaide Crows make the grand final. The only way he can play in this year’s decider is if the Crows lose their first final. From there, they need to win both the semi-final and the preliminary final.
On Rankine’s behalf—as he continues to hold down AFL’s biggest international footprint—his new teammates won the minor premiership by beating North Melbourne last Saturday. Nicks acknowledged that many individuals within the football community would be “doing it tough” in response to Rankine’s actions and its repercussions.
In light of the support Rankine continues to receive, Nicks is quick to emphasize that Rankine should not be viewed as the victim in this scenario.
“But he’s not the victim in this. And by no means do we want that to be looked at that way — and he knows that,” – Matthew Nicks
The Adelaide Crows organization is deeply committed to supporting Rankine as he continues through this difficult time. The most recent incident serves to illuminate how deeply accountability is needed in the world of sports. It further calls for an environment of respect, particularly in terms of anti-discrimination standards and player conduct.
