AFL set to investigate Adelaide Crows star over alleged slur
The Crows defeated Collingwood by three points in one of the games of the year to claim their eighth consecutive victory and lock in a top two finish, while the Magpies must win their final game of the year to make finals.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
According to Code Sports, the AFL is set to get involved in the alleged vilification probe following an alleged on-field comment — there is no suggestion Rankine said the comment or has done anything wrong, only that an allegation has been made.
The AFL, Adelaide and Collingwood are yet to comment on the allegation.
If Rankine is found guilty of making the slur, he would be in danger of missing Adelaide's entire finals campaign.
The Crows take on lowly North Melbourne in the final round of the season and are set to finish on top of the ladder — a stunning result given they haven't made finals since 2017, the last year they made the grand final.
Adelaide's win over Collingwood guaranteed the Crows two home finals at Adelaide Oval, but it would be a huge blow to their premiership hopes if they were to be without a player with Rankine's X-factor.
Last month West Coast's Jack Graham was suspended for four matches for making a homophobic slur about a GWS player.
Graham self-reported the incident, prompting an AFL integrity investigation, which found him guilty of conduct unbecoming.
Gold Coast defender Will Powell copped a five-match ban for a homophobic slur last year and Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three matches over a similar incident.
AFL Head of Integrity and Security Tony Keane said in a statement after the Graham suspension: 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all.
'The AFL will continue to consider the specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses. Graham's sanction would have been higher if he hadn't self-reported and understood his comment was totally inappropriate.'
Last week the AFL Integrity Unit closed off an investigation into an incident of 'potential inappropriate touching' by a Brisbane player to a Sydney opponent in round 22.
The incident occurred shortly after Sydney's Nick Blakey had taken an intercept mark deep inside Brisbane's forward line.
As Blakey lay on the Gabba turf, Lions forward Henry Smith stood over the top of him before stumbling backwards and then pushing up off his rival and standing the mark.
The moment however raised eyebrows after a still image and slow motion footage appeared to show Smith making contact with Blakey's backside.
Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon said the young Lions star was lucky to avoid being sanctioned by the league.
'The first photo I looked at I went 'hang on a minute'. And then the other bit of vision which turned up I said 'hang on a minute...',' he said.
'They needed to look at that and this young man, I think that's unnecessary. The AFL have cleared him of any wrongdoing, there's no complaint from Sydney or Nick Blakey.
A statement from the league read: 'Following inquires by the AFL Integrity Unit into an incident during the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans match on Saturday, it has been determined that no further action is required.'
Brisbane said: 'The club is aware the AFL Integrity Unit is looking into an alleged incident from Saturday's match against Sydney. While this process is being conducted, the club will not be commenting at this point.'
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