Crows gun Izak Rankine is set to be investigated by the AFL for allegedly using a homophobic slur in Adelaide's thrilling three-point victory over Collingwood on Friday night.
The report came from 7 News' Mitch Cleary late on Sunday night, stating that Rankine is under investigation for the alleged incident.
If found guilty, the 25-year-old star could miss all of Adelaide's September action, with the typical punishment of such instances being a lengthy ban, as seen on five occasions in the past two years.
In Round 17 this year, West Coast forward Jack Graham was banned for four matches for using a "highly offensive homophobic slur" towards a GWS opponent. Sydney's Riak Andrew was given a five-game suspension for using a homophobic slur during a VFL match in July.
In 2024, Port Adelaide tall Jeremy Finlayson was handed a three-match suspension for a similar incident in April, while Gold Coast defender Wil Powell and St Kilda forward Lance Collard were banned for five games and six games, respectively.
The loss of Rankine could be devastating for the Crows, as his versatility around the ground has played a key role in Adelaide's quest for the minor premiership, averaging a career-high 20.5 disposals and 4.4 clearances per game to go along with 31 goals.
Rankine's teammate and Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson commented on the matter on Monday morning and was unwilling to concede that the AFL has a cultural issue regarding LGBT+ communities.
"It's obviously in the AFL's hands, and we'll let them investigate it; we'll see what happens," Dawson said.
"We'll leave it up to the AFL to go through what they have to go through. I don't think so [that there's a cultural issue]."
“Obviously it is not ideal but it is in the AFL’s hands"
Crows skipper Jordan Dawson has spoken as livewire forward Izak Rankine faces an AFL investigation over an alleged homophobic slur.
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Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard said these types of incidents happen "too often" in the game.
"It's happened, what, three or four times now, so we clearly need to stamp it out, and I think we're doing a great job of that. I think we're doing as best as we can to stamp all that stuff out of the game," Maynard said.
"So yeah, it's not good to see. And I think we're doing everything we can, both from a women's program and a men's program, to stamp it out."
More to come...
