Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine faces five-game AFL ban over alleged anti-gay slur

Adelaide Crows forward Izak Rankine is facing a five-match suspension following an alleged homophobic slur directed at a Collingwood player during last Saturday’s AFL clash. The incident, which occurred during Adelaide’s narrow three-point victory, has cast a shadow over the club’s premiership campaign and sparked widespread condemnation across the league.

Rankine, 25, reportedly used the slur during an on-field exchange, prompting an investigation by the AFL’s integrity unit. The league has since proposed a five-game ban, which would effectively end Rankine’s season, including the finals. Adelaide, currently top of the ladder, has requested additional time to respond and is lobbying for a reduced three-match penalty.

The player has since apologised to the unnamed Collingwood opponent, reportedly making contact the day after the match. However, the AFL is under pressure to maintain consistency in its disciplinary approach, following similar incidents in recent seasons. In 2024, Gold Coast’s Wil Powell received a five-match ban, while Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three games for comparable offences.

Adelaide’s leadership has expressed disappointment over the incident. Former assistant coach Scott Camporeale said, “You feel for the community… these players are the best-educated group in the country around race, gender, all those things. And we continually keep having to go through these scenarios.”

The AFL is expected to make a final determination by Thursday, ahead of Adelaide’s next fixture. The case has reignited calls for stronger action against discriminatory behaviour in sport, with Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard stating, “It’s happened too often… we clearly need to stamp it out.”