Adelaide Crows delay press conference as AFL considers Izak Rankine suspension
The Crows remain uncertain when they will learn the fate of Rankine, set to be the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for a homophobic remark to an opponent in the past 16 months.
Talks between Adelaide hierarchy and the AFL have stretched into a fourth day.
"We are having ongoing discussions with the AFL as part of the due process," a Crows spokesman said on Wednesday.
Rankine is facing a suspension of between three and five games after admitting making a homophobic slur to a Collingwood opponent in Adelaide's three-point win last Saturday night.
The 25-year-old apologised to the unnamed Magpie player on Sunday as the AFL's integrity unit launched an investigation.
Rankine risks being suspended for the entire finals campaign of ladder-leading Adelaide, who are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
The Crows have one home-and-away game remaining and are then assured of hosting two finals.
Adelaide is lobbying for a three-game ban for Rankine, which would offer the playmaker a finals lifeline.
But there is widespread belief the AFL is pushing for a five-game suspension, which would end Rankine's season.
Rankine will not train with his Crows teammates on Wednesday.
A scheduled Wednesday media conference with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has been postponed until Friday.
Last month, West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four games for making a homophobic remark to a GWS player.
In April last year, Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games, and the next month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for homophobic slurs.
Two VFL players have also been banned for the same offence.
Last month, Sydney defender Riak Andrew was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne.
In July last year, St Kilda's Lance Collard was banned six games for homophobic comments while playing in the VFL for Sandringham against Williamstown.
AAP
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Izak Rankine's ban for homophobic slur: What was the AFL supposed to do?
COMMENT In the end the AFL managed to upset everyone. Make no mistake, Izak Rankine would not have gone to bed last night feeling any better about himself after being given a four-game suspension for using a homophobic slur against a Collingwood player last weekend. His personal reputation is in tatters, he may have ruined his club's best chance to win a premiership in three decades and the ban still almost certainly ends his season. Crows fans won't feel any less despondent today knowing Rankine could be available for a grand final if their team loses in week one of the postseason and then wins its way through to the decider. The Adelaide Football Club, tarnished again by one of its star's loose tongues, might have strengthened its relationship with a player critical to its long-term future by risking public scorn to have his back. But the Crows will be hyper-conscious of the damage to their brand corporately and fear a season they waited so long for has been derailed. The other 17 clubs - even those who will benefit from having Rankine removed from the Crows line-up - will know this entire mess could be there's to deal with next. The 25-year-old is the sixth player in the past two seasons to be suspended for a homophobic slur, there's no reason to think he's the last. The LGBT community will have a right to feel abandoned again, knowing a perceived discount was given to someone who used the most offensive language. Even the section of the footy world who believes what's said on the field should stay on the field were inflamed when the AFL revealed it had considered 'compelling medical advice' when deciding to give Rankine four games instead of the expected five. If there's anything that group dislikes more than players missing games for something they said in the heat of battle is players reportedly using the mental health card. And then you have the league itself, which was torn to shreds on Friday night. Collingwood great Tony Shaw branded the AFL 'incompetent', 'amateurish' and 'laughable'. Longtime commentator Gerard Whateley called it a 'disappointing moment from a disappointing administration'. '(AFL CEO Andrew) Dillon and his legal team should have travelled to Adelaide on Tuesday and sat with the Crows administration,' Whateley said on SEN. 'Dillon should have said the penalty is five weeks now let's hear your submissions. 'Dillon should have followed up with the penalty is five weeks now let's hear your appeal. 'And finally Dillon should have said the penalty is five weeks now let's go and front the press conference.' Former Crows player Josh Jenkins called the saga 'embarrassing all round' and Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall declared on Fox Footy 'they're almost a victim of their own wokeness … they don't want to offend anyone and in doing so they've offended everybody.' In fairness to the league there are no winners in situations like this and for anyone still fuming about the decision there's just one question to ask - what was the AFL supposed to do?
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