How Rankine was won over by the Crows — and how a trade with the Suns gets done

Just as the Gold Coast Suns had begun to flip their trade fortunes, Izak Rankine requests a trade to Adelaide in a tough blow for the club.

And while it’s a setback for the Suns, it looms as a significant coup for the rebuilding Crows. Although they’re going to have to cough up decent compensation, both financially and at the trade table, to get it over the line.

The Suns on Tuesday confirmed Rankine had officially expressed his desire to continue his football career in South Australia, rather than on the Gold Coast.

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The 22-year-old is set to sign a five-year deal with Adelaide worth around $850,000 per season, which could make him the highest-paid player at the Crows next year.

While the announcement was far from a bombshell considering recent reports – which indicated Rankine was a near-certainty to request a trade to the Crows – it still would’ve been a bitter pill to swallow for the Suns, who’d remained optimistic for almost the entire season Rankine would re-sign amid his breakout 29-goal campaign.

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Gold Coast had already seen Ben King and Jack Lukosius – who, like Rankine, were taken by the Suns with top 10 picks in the 2018 draft – wave off interstate interest and sign new deals. They signed on until 2024 and 2026 respectively, joining the likes of Touk Miller, David Swallow, Ben Ainsworth, Charlie Ballard, David Swallow, Lachie Weller, Mac Andrew, Sam Collins and Sean Lemmens to commit to the Suns long-term.

Izak Rankine kicked two goals against Geelong. Picture: Russell FreemanSource: Getty Images

After Lukosius re-signed in late June, coach Stuart Dew was bullish Rankine would stay too as he was a player that had bought into the culture of the club – and had bought a house on the Gold Coast earlier this year. And after Rankine turned down Essendon‘s offer – reportedly a five-year deal at around $800,000 per season – most expected the process of putting pen to paper at the Suns was a fait accompli. In fact the Herald Sun reported Rankine’s Gold Coast contract was “effectively signed and sealed”, with only haggling over whether he’d sign for two or four seasons holding up an announcement.

“We love Izak and he loves us back,” Dew told reporters. “So that (contract extension) will work itself out, sometimes it‘s just getting the details ironed out.

“We‘re really confident he is embedded on the Gold Coast and I think we’re really good for him on and off the field.”

But as the weeks ticked by and the goalsneak’s eye-catching games banked up throughout July, no Rankine-Suns deal was forthcoming.

It was during that period where Rankine’s heart and mind changed – and Adelaide’s $4 million, five-year offer came. The Bombers’ offer didn’t turn Rankine’s head, but the Crows’ one did. While the deal, on average, was only an extra $50,000 per season, the lure of returning to South Australia was strong.

Dew remained as optimistic as he could publicly. But the Suns’ confidence of keeping Rankine, at least privately, began to wane especially because they weren’t prepare to increase their financial terms from around $650,000 per season.

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The Suns began their pleas for Rankine to stay. Players and senior figures at the club warned him of the cons of moving back to the footy-mad Adelaide bubble and the extra scrutiny he’d attract. The club then hosted his father at the club’s Round 22 game against Geelong – a game Rankine showed exciting glimpses in but ultimately finished on the bench with an injured shoulder.

Then on Tuesday, as player exit interviews began, the Suns were told Rankine wanted his Gold Coast stint to end.

“We have created a football club where our players and staff are committed to success, so we‘re disappointed with his decision,“ Suns list boss Craig Cameron said.

“We‘ve provided an environment and support network around Izak since he was drafted to help him play his best football and it’s disappointing that journey won’t continue.“

While the Suns will be confident they’ll be able to fill the small forward chasm, players of Rankine’s talent are rare. Former AFL national talent football manager Mick Ablett told foxfooty.com.au in 2020 Rankine was a “genuine match-winner” and “once in a generation type player”.

“I’ve likened him to Andrew McLeod a number of times – and I stand by that,” Ablett told foxfooty.com.au.

“I think he’s the closest thing I’ve seen to McLeod in terms of he’s got that beautiful burst of speed when he needs it, but also that composure and ability to put a game into slow motion yet do freakish things at various times.”

Izak Rankine wants out at the Suns. Picture: Russell FreemanSource: Getty Images

Now Rankine is poised to join the club McLeod is a legend of.

The Crows, who finished 2022 in strong form with three consecutive wins, are now several years into their rebuild in which they’ve formed an elusive forward line.

While Taylor Walker has returned to his best form in the past two seasons – punctuated by his selection in the 44-man All-Australian squad this week – the young forward brigade has given Adelaide fans ample hope for the future. Darcy Fogarty had a career-best season in 2022, Shane McAdam scratched the surface and Josh Rachele showed glimpses of why he was taken with Pick 6 in last year’s draft.

Add Rankine to that mix and the Crows’ forward 50 will be giving coaches ample headaches over the coming years.

But a deal has to be struck first.

All reports indicate the Suns will want draft selections as part of the Rankine deal.

Adelaide Crows press conference | 12:58

The Crows hold their natural first-round (Pick 5) and second-round (Pick 23) selections – those picks will be almost certainly pushed back by father-son bids – but nothing in the third or fourth round. The Suns will almost certainly ask that Pick 5 be part of the deal – and it wouldn’t surprise if they also asked for another first-rounder to be involved, considering Rankine was, firstly, a first-round draftee himself and, secondly, a brilliant goalsneak that showed more than glimpses in 2022.

After playing a small role in last year’s draft – they only selected Mac Andrew (Pick 5) and Charlie Constable (Pick 63) – the Suns are loaded with selections this year. They have their natural first-round selection (Pick 7), three second-round picks and two third-rounders, so those extra picks might prove handy in sweetening a deal with the Crows should they have high-demands. But they’ll also be keen to concentrate their selections as much as possible.

There were reports last week West Coast was waiting in the wings to pounce on Rankine if the Crows and Suns couldn’t strike a deal during the trade period and pick him up in the pre-season draft. But considering Gold Coast will be desperate for fair compensation for losing such a highly-talented player, there’s no way Rankine is left in limbo post-trade period.