Izak Rankine's Season in Jeopardy: Five-Week Ban Looms

Read about the AFL news surrounding Izak Rankine's alleged homophobic slur and the potential consequences for his career.

Izak Rankine's season might be over sooner than expected. Veteran broadcaster Eddie McGuire revealed on Channel Nine's Footy Classified that Rankine is set to receive a five-week ban, which would officially be announced. This comes after a lengthy investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit into an alleged homophobic slur directed at a Collingwood opponent during a match.

Investigation Details:

Alleged Incident: Rankine allegedly used a homophobic slur against a Collingwood player during the Crows' win over the Magpies.

AFL Probe: The AFL Integrity Unit has been investigating the incident and is expected to finalize its findings soon.

Rankine's Apology: Rankine has already apologized to the Collingwood player involved, but the AFL emphasizes that private apologies don't replace formal accountability.

Potential Consequences:

Five-Game Ban: If the reported ban is confirmed, Rankine would miss the rest of the season, potentially impacting Adelaide's finals hopes.

Precedent: This would be one of several suspensions for similar offenses in the AFL, with other players recently penalized for using homophobic slurs.

Izak Rankine's season with the Adelaide Crows is hanging in the balance after the AFL reportedly informed the club of its intention to suspend him for five games. The suspension stems from a homophobic slur directed at a Collingwood player during a match last weekend. According to Eddie McGuire, the letter from the AFL confirms the suspension, which would rule Rankine out of the remainder of the 2025 season, including the potential Grand Final if Adelaide qualifies.

"Tonight I can tell you Izak Rankine's season is OVER." ⚠️

Eddie McGuire tells Footy Classified the Crows star is set to be suspended for five matches – ending his hopes of playing in finals.#9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/6dNMAb05W3

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 19, 2025

What's Next for Rankine and the Crows:

Appeal Opportunity: Adelaide and Rankine have the chance to appeal the suspension on Wednesday morning, giving them a potential window to reduce the ban.

Crows' Defense: The club argues Rankine was provoked, with reports suggesting Collingwood's Dan Houston made a “stretcher” comment towards Rankine, referencing a past incident where Houston knocked Rankine out with a heavy bump.

Impact on the Team: Rankine's absence would be a significant blow to the Crows, who are currently top of the ladder and have emerged as premiership favorites.

The incident involving Rankine has sparked controversy, with teammate Taylor Walker revealing that Rankine is deeply remorseful about his actions. Walker stated that Rankine “will accept whatever comes his way,” indicating a sense of accountability and willingness to face the consequences. This comes after Rankine reportedly phoned his Collingwood opponent on Sunday to apologize for his behavior.

Recent Similar Incident:

Jack Graham's Ban: West Coast's Jack Graham was handed a four-week ban for directing a similar slur at a GWS opponent earlier in the season, setting a precedent for potential disciplinary action against Rankine.

An official announcement from the AFL is expected on Wednesday morning, which will likely outline the disciplinary action to be taken against Rankine. The outcome will be closely watched, given the recent precedent set by Graham's ban and the emphasis on promoting respectful conduct in the sport.