Izak Rankine

Izak Rankine
Personal information
Full name	Izak Rankine
Nickname(s)	The Magician [1] [2] [3] Ranks [4]
Date of birth	(2000-04-23) 23 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	West Adelaide (SANFL) / Edwardstown / Flinders Park (Adelaide Footy League)
Draft	No. 3, 2018 AFL draft, Gold Coast
Debut	Round 6, 2020, Gold Coast  vs. Melbourne, at Sydney Showground Stadium
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current club	Adelaide
Number	23
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2020–2022	Gold Coast	48 (57)
2023–	Adelaide	33 (62)
Total		81 (119)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 17, 2024.
Career highlights
2x 22under22 team: 2020, 2022 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2020
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Izak Rankine (born 23 April 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having previously been drafted to the Gold Coast Suns with pick 3 in the 2018 AFL draft.

Early life

Rankine was born in Adelaide into a family of Indigenous Australian descent (Kokatha and Ngarrindjeri). ^[5] He shares a relation to Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee and 1993 Brownlow Medalist Gavin Wanganeen ^[6] as well as being the first cousin of former AFL player Danyle Pearce. ^[7] As a child, Rankine played an array of sports which included basketball, rugby and tennis but eventually chose to focus on Australian rules football. ^[8] He grew up playing junior football for Edwardstown and Flinders Park before being given the opportunity to rise through the junior ranks at SANFL club West Adelaide.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2016, he played his first senior SANFL game for West Adelaide at the age of 16 and kicked two goals on debut. ^{[9] [10]} He was later selected to represent South Australia in the 2017 and 2018 AFL Under 18 Championships where he was named in the All-Australian team both years and played a crucial role in South Australia's 2018 national championship. ^[11] Rankine attended Henley High School throughout his teenage years, where he played school football ^[12] alongside future Gold Coast teammate Jack Lukosius ^[13] and the pair were very influential in winning the 2018 SA Schools Championship. ^[14]

AFL career

Gold Coast (2019–2022)

Rankine was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with the third pick in the 2018 AFL draft. ^[15] Persistent hamstring and hip injuries prevented him from making his AFL debut in 2019 ^[16] but the Suns showed faith in Rankine by agreeing to a two-year contract extension which tied him to the club until the end of 2022. ^[17]

Rankine made his AFL debut against Melbourne in round 6 of the 2020 AFL season and impressed with a three-goal performance, ^[18] which earned him the round 6 AFL Rising Star nomination. ^[19] At the conclusion of the 2022 AFL season Rankine requested a trade to Adelaide, ^[20] and was traded on 10 October. ^[21]

Adelaide (2023–present)

Rankine played his 50th career game in his first home game at Adelaide, in round 2 against Richmond in 2023. In April 2023, he was subjected to racial abuse on social media, ^{[22] [23]} which was investigated by AFL's integrity unit. ^[24] Late in the season, Rankine suffered a hamstring injury which kept him on the sidelines for about three weeks. ^[25] Rankine finished fourth in the Malcolm Blight Medal tally in just his first season at the club. ^[26] In the off-season, Rankine changed his guernsey number from 22 to 23, which was the number previously worn by Andrew McLeod, most recently Shane McAdam, and other Indigenous Adelaide players since McLeod. The number also matches Rankine's date of birth. ^[27]

In 2024, Rankine adopted a new role which saw him play more often as a midfielder. The shift was successful, and resulted in multiple matches in which Rankine had 20 or more disposals and multiple goals. For Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Rankine and his cousin Harley Hall designed Adelaide's (renamed for the occasion as Kuwarna) Indigenous guernsey, celebrating their shared Ngarrindjeri heritage. ^[28] In May, David King suggested that Rankine could become "a top two or three player" in the competition in a matter of weeks. ^[29] With moments to go and a single-digit margin in a match against Collingwood at the MCG, Rankine gave away a free kick for running further than 15 meters without taking a bounce, denying a potential game-saving score for Adelaide. ^[30] During this final play, Rankine injured his hamstring again, a repeat of the injury he suffered 10 months prior. ^[25]

In round 17 against Brisbane Lions, Rankine struck Lions defender Brandon Starcevich, and was suspended for four matches for the incident. ^{[31] [32]} Rankine was racially abused on social media by a Brisbane club member, who had his membership revoked as a result. Both clubs condemned the behaviour. ^[33] In only his second game since returning from suspension, during the second quarter of the 56th Showdown against cross-town rivals Port Adelaide, Dan Houston engaged in rough conduct with Rankine. Rankine was immediately concussed, having to be stretchered off the ground. Houston was sent straight to the AFL's tribunal. ^[34]

Personal life

In his spare time, Rankine enjoys making music. ^{[35] [36]} His cousin is in a relationship with Gold Coast player Sean Lemmens ^[37] and the couple's daughter is Rankine's first cousin, once removed. ^[38]

Rankine's cousin is Harley Hall, an Indigenous artist with whom he shares native Australian heritage. It was alongside Hall that Rankine designed Adelaide's 2024 Indigenous guernsey. ^[28]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 11, 2024 ^[39]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2020 [lower-alpha 1]	Gold Coast	22	12	12	17	90	48	138	26	21	1.0	1.4	7.5	4.0	11.5	2.2	1.8	1
2021	Gold Coast	22	18	16	11	120	92	212	51	46	0.9	0.6	6.7	5.1	11.8	2.8	2.6	0
2022	Gold Coast	22	18	29	21	154	88	242	40	39	1.6	1.1	8.5	4.8	13.4	2.2	2.1	2
2023	Adelaide	22	20	36	27	197	121	318	74	64	1.8	1.4	9.9	6.1	16.0	3.7	3.2	7
2024	Adelaide	23	11	22	6	129	75	204	37	41	2.0	0.5	11.7	6.8	18.5	3.3	3.7	TBC
Career			79	115	82	690	357	1114	228	212	1.4	1.0	8.7	5.3	14.1	2.8	2.6	10

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

1. "Four vying for No.1 spot in AFL draft". SBS News. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
2. "Izak Rankine is nothing short of a magician - AFL Twitter Page". Australian Football League. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
3. "The magician': Get to know Izak Rankine". Australian Football League. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
4. "Weird footy nicknames: So why do they call Gov 'Brackets'?". 16 March 2019.
5. "AFL Players' Indigenous Map 2020" (PDF). AFL Players Association. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
6. Edsall, Rudi (22 November 2018). "Triple M: 2018 AFL Draft Live Blog". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
7. Di Pietro, Kavisha (13 July 2020). "Emerging Sun no ordinary Rankine file". AFL Players Association. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
8. Turner, Matt (25 July 2017). "AFL Draft prospect Izak Rankine catches talent scouts' eyes while playing for SANFL side West Adelaide and South Australia". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
9. Waterworth, Ben (11 July 2020). "A 'once in a generation' player is about to be unleashed: Brace yourself for Izak Rankine". Fox Sports Australia.
10. Milbank, Zac (8 August 2016). "Rankine revels on debut". westadelaidefc.com.au.
11. Balmer, Matt (8 August 2016). "Under 18 All-Australian team announced: Including Izak Rankine, Jack Lukosius and Sam Walsh". Fox Sports Australia.
12. "Izak Rankine kicks a ripper for Henley High School". South Australian National Football League. 30 August 2017.
13. "SA stars Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine vow to support each other at struggling Gold Coast". Adelaide Now. 22 November 2018.
14. "Lukosius, Rankine lead Henley to first football championship since 1980". Adelaide Now. 21 August 2018.
15. "Raring Rankine ready to go". goldcoastfc.com.au. 22 November 2018.
16. "Debut on hold again for young Suns gun Rankine". The Age. 19 March 2020.
17. McClure, Sam (10 July 2019). "Gun of the Suns Rankine re-signs". The Age.
18. Thorne, Brendon (11 July 2020). "Melbourne Demons see off Gold Coast Suns despite Izak Rankine magic on debut". ABC News.
19. Twomey, Callum (13 July 2020). "Ranking Rankine: Rising Star rates his three debut goals". Australian Football League.
20. Whiting, Michael (23 August 2022). "Rank-out: Suns gun asks for trade to hometown club". AFL Media. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
21. @AFL_House (10 October 2022). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
22. "Izak Rankine targeted with racist abuse as Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks blasts 'disgraceful' detail". 7NEWS. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
23. Ryan, Peter (17 April 2023). "AFL 2023: Racism rampant as league braces for impact of Voice to Parliament referendum". The Age . Retrieved 18 April 2023.
24. Australian Associated Press (12 April 2023). "AFL opens investigations into racist abuse of four Indigenous players". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 April 2023.
25. Kalinic, Dejan (20 May 2024). "Crows gun to miss weeks due to hamstring injury". afl.com.au. Australian Football League.
26. "Dawson crowned 2023 AFC Malcolm Blight Medallist". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 7 October 2023.
27. "Crows confirm 2024 guernsey numbers". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 26 November 2023.
28. Wade, Natasha (15 March 2024). "Crows unveil 2024 Indigenous Guernsey". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club.
29. Geleit, Lachlan (13 May 2024). ""A top two or three player": King's huge Rankine call aa midfield minutes increase". sen.com.au. 1116 SEN.
30. Cotton, Ben (19 May 2024). "'Where's the sense of occasion?' Controversial Rankine seals bonkers ending to Pies-Crows thriller". foxsports.com.au. Fox Footy.
31. Faulkner, Will (7 July 2024). "'This is crap': Crows gun savaged for 'picking off defenceless player' with calls for BIG ban". foxsports.com.au. Fox Sports.
32. Smith, Martin (8 July 2024). "BREAKING MATCH REVIEW: Star Swan learns fate, Crows gun cops big ban". afl.com.au. Australian Football League.
33. "Club Statement: Izak Rankine". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 8 July 2024.
34. Smith, Martin (18 August 2024). "MATCH REVIEW: Port gun sent to Tribunal, Giant cops a week".
35. "Izak Rankine killed this rendition of Fast Car". 7AFL Twitter Profile. 30 May 2019.
36. "Cater 2 U - Destiny's Child". Izak Rankine Instagram Profile. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
37. "AFL.com.au's time inside the SUNS". Gold Coast Suns. 9 May 2019.
38. "Gold Coast Suns Izak Rankine and Sean Lemmens open up about stripping weight ahead of the 2020 AFL season". Gold Coast Bulletin. 22 January 2020.
39. "Izak Rankine". AFLTables. Retrieved 11 May 2024.

External links

• Izak Rankine's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Izak Rankine at AustralianFootball.com
• "The magician': Get to know Izak Rankine". Australian Football League. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2020.