Flag coaches’ call as Rankine decision drags on
Adelaide star Izak Rankine is poised to learn his fate over the use of a homophobic slur as negotiations between his club and the AFL stretch into a fifth day.
Two AFL premiership coaches are adamant Adelaide can still win the flag if star Izak Rankine is suspended for the rest of the season over his homophobic slur.
And the pair are convinced Matthew Nicks and his players would hold the same belief internally.
Rankine is set to become the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for making a homophobic slur to an opponent over the past two seasons.
The convoluted process to determine the length of Rankine’s ban will stretch into a fifth day, after the AFL granted the Crows’ request for additional time to respond to the league’s proposed sanction.
An AFL spokesperson said the league will provide an update on Thursday.
At the centre of the AFL proposal is a five-match suspension, which would sideline Rankine for the rest of the season.
The 25-year-old is regarded as being among the league’s most talented players and has until now shaped as a key cog in the ladder-leading Crows’ premiership assault.
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If Rankine is ruled out for the finals, it would be a huge blow to Nicks’s chances of steering Adelaide to their first premiership since 1998.
John Longmire and Adam Simpson both faced losing key players before finals campaigns, at Sydney and West Coast respectively, and insisted such obstacles can be overcome.
Simpson successfully guided the Eagles to the 2018 title despite losing Nic Naitanui, Brad Sheppard (both to injuries) and Andrew Gaff (suspension) late in the season.
Simpson said Nicks and the Crows would be focused on their last home-and-away match against North Melbourne, at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
But he added losing Rankine would not shake Adelaide’s belief in their premiership credentials.
“They know there’s particular talented players that are very important but no one wouldn’t believe they can still win it without him,” Simpson told Fox Footy on Wednesday night.
“It’s not a difficult message to send (as a coach): someone gets another opportunity, we keep moving forward.
“Rankine’s going to be the one they’re worried about the most. I think the players are going to be fine, I reckon Adelaide are going to be fine.
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“As much as on paper they’re not as strong, I don’t think they’re thinking like that.”
Simpson, who said Adelaide could “absolutely” win the flag without Rankine, urged Nicks to remain calm as he attempts to navigate a difficult situation.
Earlier on Wednesday, Nicks admitted the intense spotlight on Rankine and his team had been a distraction.
“But no, we’re locked in on what we’re doing this weekend,” Nicks said.
“We just put support around Izak because it is a tough thing to go through, and he knows it’s going to be tough from here.
“But we’ll work our way through it.”
Adelaide had lobbied for a three-match ban, which would have given Rankine a chance of playing later in the finals.
The Crows will host two finals after their North Melbourne fixture, as they return to the major round for the first time since 2017.
Last month, West Coast’s Jack Graham was banned for four games for making a homophobic remark to a GWS player.
In April last year, Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson banned for three games and, the next month, Gold Coast’s Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs are opponents.
Two VFL players have also recently been banned for homophobic slurs.
Sydney defender Riak Andrew last month was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans’ reserves team against North Melbourne.
And in July last year, St Kilda’s Lance Collard was banned six games for homophobic comments while playing in the VFL for Sandringham against Williamstown.
-with AAP
