Izak Rankine is expected to learn his fate on Tuesday as the AFL finalises its investigation into allegations he directed a homophobic comment at a Collingwood opponent at the weekend.
Rankine said “f—-t” once during the match in Adelaide on Saturday night, two competition sources have confirmed. But he did not self-report the comment to the AFL, it was brought to their attention by others.
Adelaide’s Izak Rankine celebrates a goal against Hawthorn on August 1.Credit: Getty Images
The match-winning midfielder loomed as a trump card for the top-of-the-table Crows in this year’s finals series, but could be ruled out for the rest of the club’s season if he is suspended for four games or more.
A suspension of that magnitude would be consistent with other recent on-field matters of homophobic vilification investigated by the AFL.
Teammate Taylor Walker said Rankine was “very remorseful” and ready to accept whatever penalty the AFL imposes on him.
“I spoke to him [Rankine] last night on the phone and he is very remorseful and he understands that he’s made a mistake and he’ll accept whatever comes his way,” Walker told Triple M Breakfast in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Walker would have some understanding of Rankine’s position, given he was banned for six games and fined $20,000 in 2021 following an AFL investigation that found he’d racially vilified a SANFL player, an act he said at the time he was “deeply ashamed” of.
“He [Rankine] hasn’t been outside and he had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday,” Walker said on Tuesday.