AFL Rd 6 - Melbourne v Gold Coast
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Izak Rankine of the Suns kicks celebrates after kicking his first AFL goal during the round 6 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Gold Coast Suns at GIANTS Stadium on July 11, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

AFL great Malcolm Blight has declared he would have selected rising Sun Izak Rankine with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

The dual premiership coach praised the small forward's x-factor, match-winning ability and his craft around goal that make him a "Cyril Rioli-type" player.

Rankine was taken at Pick 3 in the 2018 draft and made his long-awaited debut last weekend against Melbourne in electrifying fashion, booting three goals and earning himself the Rising Star nomination.

Blight noticed Rankine a couple of years ago and liked what he saw from the young excitement machine.

“Izak Rankine caught my eye a couple of years ago,” Blight told SEN’s Whateley.

“I actually nominated him to go pick one, I would have picked him first. I’ve seen him play and I thought he had that x-factor.

“(Sam) Walsh and (Jack) Lukosius are going to be fine players – Walsh as we know already and Lukosius is really developing. This young fella has got speed, he’s got smarts, and he’s got a sense of where the goals are.

“He mightn’t be the 30-plus possession great midfielder, but he might be a Cyril Rioli-type.

“That’s why I would have taken him (at pick one), they are hard to come by. I know they aren’t as consistent as some of the others but I reckon every team needs one, you need that igniter.”