URGENT UPDATE: Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine is currently under investigation for an alleged homophobic slur directed at a Collingwood player during Saturday night’s match at Adelaide Oval. If found guilty, Rankine could face a suspension that threatens to derail the Crows’ finals campaign.
The AFL has shown a zero-tolerance approach to homophobic slurs, with recent penalties ranging from three to five games for similar offenses. The Crows, sitting atop the ladder, have only one home-and-away game remaining and cannot finish lower than second as they prepare for the finals.
While Adelaide officials have not confirmed Rankine as the player involved, they acknowledged an ongoing investigation. “We are aware of an alleged matter involving one of our players in Saturday night’s game and we are in discussions with the AFL,” a club spokesman stated on Monday.
Sources reveal that Rankine allegedly made the slur during a closely contested game, which the Crows won by just three points. This incident comes on the heels of the AFL’s suspension of Jack Graham from West Coast for four games after he admitted to using a homophobic slur against a GWS opponent in round 17. Last year, Wil Powell of Gold Coast and Jeremy Finlayson of Port Adelaide faced similar penalties.
A suspension for Rankine, one of the league’s most talented players, would be a significant blow to Adelaide’s finals aspirations. The Crows are poised to enter the finals in first place if they secure a victory against lowly North Melbourne this Saturday. This marks a return to the playoffs for Adelaide for the first time since their defeat in the 2017 grand final.
Rankine, aged 25, has yet to play in a final, having joined the Crows from Gold Coast at the end of the 2022 campaign. The upcoming days will be critical as both the Crows and their fans await the outcome of this investigation, which could alter the course of their finals journey.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
