Adelaide star Izak Rankine has been suspended for four games by the AFL, ruling him out of the upcoming finals series unless the Crows lose a qualifying final but still make it through to the grand final on the last Saturday of September.
Rankine uttered a homophobic slur towards a Collingwood player, after allegedly being provoked by Pies defender Dan Houston. He admitted after the penalty was handed down that he “regrets using the word and I am very sorry for doing so”.
After multiple days of discussions and delays, the AFL settled on the ban on Thursday.
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In a statement, the AFL said its Integrity Unit found that Rankine “used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a Collingwood opponent – language that demeans and denigrates people regardless of their sexuality.”
Izak Rankine of the Crows. Getty
The statement added that Adelaide had made a “compelling” submission in a bid to get the penalty lowered from the five-game ban initially offered, which included “medical submissions”.
Part of the submissions reportedly centred around mental health concerns for Rankine, which was slammed by Collingwood great Tony Shaw on social media.
“The compelling medical advice taken into account on Rankine plea? Izak is feeling sad that he stuffed up badly letting himself, teammates and club down,” he said via X.
“Well blow me down that deserves one week less?
“AFL incompetent, amateurish, laughable.”
The league has come under fire from all angles for reducing the suspension.
Jason Dunstall claimed the AFL had become “victim of their own wokeness” as they ty to juggle the penalty with Rankine’s mental well being.
“It’s difficult, a lot of people are finding it hard to move on and I think they’re as confused as I was,” he said on Thursday night’s Fox Footy broadcast.
“It’s almost like they’re a victim of their own wokeness. They don’t want to offend anyone, they want to take every issue, every condition. I would never downplay mental health by any stretch of the imagination, but rules are rules.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve transgressed, you’ve got to cop the punishment. They don’t want to offend anyone and in doing so, they’ve offended everybody.”
Izak Rankine. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Veteran broadcaster Gerard Whateley also condemned Andrew Dillon and those at the AFL head office for not taking the required stand.
“It’s such a disappointing moment from a disappointing administration,” he said on SEN.
“It is the AFL’s stand to rid the game of homophobic language, a campaign it began last season. From what we understand, it is specifically Andrew Dillon’s stand and at the moment of greatest challenge, he couldn’t see it through.
“The penalty for the usage of a homophobic slur without self-reporting is five weeks. This confected outcome, hidden behind compelling medical submissions and all involved, know they can avoid accountability by using such an oblique phrase.
“If the AFL was going to deviate from its desired penalty of five weeks, Dillon needed to explain plainly and clearly why such a reduction was arrived at and justify the decision – he failed to do so.
“Adelaide wanted three matches, the AFL wanted five matches, the outcome was four.”
As well as the hefty suspension, Rankine has also been ordered to undertake “further Pride in Sport training” and education.
“The language used was offensive, hurtful and highly inappropriate,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
“Our players have a very clear understanding of what is acceptable on the football field. Importantly, in this instance it was called out by players and acknowledged by Izak himself as wrong — and that reflects the standards we expect and demand.
“Izak has said he knew it was not acceptable. Adelaide have said they know it is not acceptable. In an AFL environment, this behaviour is not acceptable.
“Homophobia has no place in football. The suspension is significant, but stamping out vilification in our game is incredibly important. Everyone in football understands the rules, and there are consequences of breaching them.”
Rankine commented on the incident via a Crows statement minutes after the AFL’s verdict was made public.
“I regret using the word and I am very sorry for doing so, and that type of language has no place in football or the community,” Rankine said.
“It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player, and what happened does not reflect my values or those of the club.
“I’m committed to educating myself and being better.”
Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the club was extremely disappointed with Rankine’s behaviour and the word he used.
“Such language is unacceptable and at odds with the values of our organisation, and we are committed to being a club that fosters a respectful and inclusive environment,” Silvers said.
“We are obviously frustrated and disappointed however, player welfare is always a priority and we will provide Izak with the appropriate support and education.”
The decision on the Rankine ban came after heated debate as to whether finals matches should carry more weight than home-and-away games.
The AFL has also been accused of hypocrisy for coming down hard on a player for using the same slur that is contained in Snoop Dogg lyrics after the American rapper was just last week secured to headline this year’s grand final entertainment.
However, during his press conference on Thursday afternoon, AFL boss Andrew Dillon defended using the rapper for the sport’s landmark event.
“In light of this issue, I also want to address the recent commentary in the last couple of days around our grand final entertainment,” he said.
“We cannot vouch for every lyric in every song ever written or performed by any artist who has or will perform on our stage.
Snoop Dogg Getty
“What I can say is that our pre-match entertainment on grand final day will be family-friendly and consistent with the audience that the MCG and those watching.
“It is also important to remember that we have engaged Snoop Dogg in 2025 as the person he is today. He has spoken publicly about his past.
“He has changed. He is a grandfather, philanthropist, he helps rehabilitate youth and he is a global entertainer who has performed at the Super Bowl and Olympics.
“In those environments, his performances were appropriate and well-received and his performance at our grand final will be fitting for the best sporting event in the country.”
Sydney rookie Riak Andrew (five games), St Kilda forward Lance Collard (six games) and West Coast midfielder Jack Graham (four games after self reporting) have also been suspended for homophobic slurs in 2025.
Dillon is adamant the AFL will not stand for further incidents of this nature.
“I don’t want to be in a position where we compare these moving forward,” he said.
Andrew Dillon AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I think what we have to do is continue to educate the players and work with the playing group. Players get taunted and players get provoked – but the line has been crossed too many times. This has been a key pillar of what the AFL has been about long before my time here, so it’s disappointing and it’s unacceptable and it’s not good enough.
“We want to work with the playing group to eradicate it.”
If Adelaide beats North Melbourne this weekend, they will win the minor premiership and enter finals as the top ranked team.
However, losing a likely All-Australian in Rankine for the majority of the finals series will put a dent in their September hopes.
There is still a chance that Rankine could play in the grand final should the Crows lose their first final and go the long way round, but Dillon wasn’t keen to weigh into what the biggest week on the AFL calendar would look like if he does play.
“I haven’t thought through that,” the chief executive said.
“What we’ve done is had an investigation and concluded that. What will be will be, but it’s a significant sanction and it’s behaviour that is not acceptable.”
Dillon said the AFL couldn’t divulge what the medical submissions involved.