RICHO'S TOP 10: Crows star Izak Rankine has only himself to blame over AFL ban for homophobic slur
The seemingly never-ending sagas of player movement that free agency creates is now part of our game, as NAS was a restricted free agent and had the right to make sure he got top dollar for his services. There is always a go-home factor with some players. One rusted-on Saints fan told Dale Thomas and me over the weekend it would be worse than when they lost Tony Lockett to the Swans in 1995 if NAS had jumped ship. Some Saints fans have still not recovered from Plugger going north.
Win and you're in. Lose and you can book those plane tickets to Bali. Now that's a bitter pill to swallow if you're a Freo fan, as your team will have won 15 games. But the good thing is it's still in the Dockers' hands, 'just win baby,' as the late great Las Vegas Raiders owner Al Davis would say. The Dockers will also be motivated by Nat Fyfe playing his final regular season game. There have not been many better players in the AFL era than Fyfe at the peak of his powers. Those peak years were 2013–19, during which he won two Brownlow medals. One of the best marking midfielders we have seen. Not many, if any, have been as courageous and tough in the contest. Fyfe also has a bit of mystery about him and an aura that draws people in. Unfortunately, his career was at times plagued by injuries, which must have worn him out mentally. He never showed it though. Let's hope this weekend isn't his final game and the Dockers can take him into a final September run. It will be must-watch Sunday footy on Channel Seven.
To me, it's pointless holding it in mid-February with Victoria taking on WA at Optus Stadium. It will be circle work, nothing more than an exhibition game. And I doubt all the stars will be there either. Why? Because it will never be supported by the clubs who don't want their star players injured. Imagine the Western Bulldogs' reaction if The Bont was injured in this game. It will never be the pinnacle of the game like it is in the NRL to the players. So, to me, it is pointless unless it's fully supported by all stakeholders 100 per cent. Some stars of the game have said they want it, but need to show it's more than ticking it off on their career achievement list.
As a small forward with 553 goals to his name, it puts him at the very top of the tree in that position. Incredible numbers in a position that at times you're living off scraps. He is so hard to tackle with great movement and footy IQ. He was a huge part of the Hawks' threepeat from 2013–15 – one of the all-time great teams. He sits comfortably among Stephen Milne, Eddie Betts, Jeff Farmer and Boomer Harvey as the best small crumbing forwards of the AFL era. A potential Hall of Famer, no doubt.
The AFL would be pumped as well, with a Port win making the Suns' final game against the Bombers do-or-die. More so than that, he just deserves to walk off the Adelaide Oval with a win and a chance to sing the song one last time for the Power. He is a players' man to the end that never lost his group over his entire career. He only suffered two losing seasons in 13 years at the helm, and in four of those, he made the preliminary final. Always an honest straight shooter with no BS when dealing with him in the media as well. Put the feet up, Kenny. A job in footy awaits somewhere when he's ready. Maybe at Carlton with Vossy?
Look back at the last four years. In 2022, they needed one win to secure a finals spot, only to give up the last two goals of the game against Melbourne in round 22 to lose by five points, and in round 23 they kicked 0.6 in the last quarter to Collingwood's 5.1 to lose by one point and surrender a finals berth. In 2023, they made a preliminary final. But on closer inspection, when the pressure and expectation was on that year after a 4–0 start, they went 1–8. Then, when there was a nothing-to-lose mentality, they made a run. Last year, they were second on the ladder by round 18, then stumbled into a finals campaign after they lost to the Saints and had to rely on other results. They will probably finish this year with a win tonight to finish 11th at best with a 9–14 record. It feels like the pressure valve went down after the club backed Vossy in for 2026, but over the summer they have to find a way to deal with the expectations of being a big four club, if they really want to be one.
He's a fan favourite already at West Coast, and when he was at Richmond, he was the same. A committed, total team player. Desperate and willing to play any role for his team. But, and I'm sorry for this Liam, he is about to become just the fifth AFL player to win back-to-back flags (at the Tigers in 2019–20) and back-to-back wooden spoons with the Tigers in 2024 and now West Coast in 2025. The other players with this unwanted honour are all Lions: Marcus Ashcroft, Shaun Hart, Chris Johnson and Martin Pike. Now that's a quirky footy trivia question for your next club fundraiser.
I get it, he's different and marketable and controversial. He draws heaps of attention for all the obvious reasons. But I love it. As I've said before, we need more personalities in our game who are not afraid of being themselves. Apart from that, he gets the job done on the field every weekend. Smith has been massive for the Cats and will be a key factor in a strong September run for Geelong.
As a player, Simpson had a top score of 311 and was known as just about the best slips fielder of all time. But it was as Australia's coach that I remember him the most from 1986 to 1996 – my peak cricket-watching years. Under his tutelage and Allan Border's captaincy, Australia was transformed as a team. Think of the players that came through in that time. Too many to name, but I will single out my childhood hero and great Tasmanian Boony. Some of the team's greatest achievements in his time as coach were winning the 1987 World Cup and regaining The Ashes in England in 1989. I vividly recall both those achievements. What a time it was for Aussie cricket fans.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
26 minutes ago
- The Age
The AFL's dithering over slur shows they're not ready to embrace an Ian Roberts moment
We care about you, absolutely. But your sexuality? About as interesting as your matcha order. Tons of AFLW players are gay and crowds love them. Sponsors love them. Nobody is throwing rotten tomatoes or slurs. Yet, we keep hearing 'homophobic attitudes' are what's keeping AFL players in the closet. I could be wrong, but I reckon the first bloke brave enough to come out will be a hero – our Ian Roberts moment. He'll be lauded, applauded, respected. I hope so, jeepers, I hope so. Like most of you, I have skin in this game with LGBTQI family and friends. And that means I know the AFL should not have dragged out this sorry episode for a week of 'learning statements' around values. In AFL land, every offence has to be blown into a righteousness play with an 'I need to be better' narrative from remorseful players. The scripts never change. Player apologises. Player vows to 'educate himself.' Can we not? When my kids were little and something awful was said to them in the playground, I'd tell them this: If someone calls you a name and you're not that, don't let it bother you. If someone calls you a name and it's true, respect accuracy and don't let it bother you. I still think that's right. But how hard it must be to not feel wounded when you're called a 'f–––t'. Nobody should have to accept that. Maybe the issue we can fix right now is to stop treating professional athletes like emotional invalids. Loading I will punch myself in the face next time I hear 'we're wrapping our arms around' a bloke who behaves badly and then gets paid time off from his dream job as an AFL player to have a think about his issues. While we're on the subject, what bugs me too is that while homophobic slurs rightfully get called out, calling someone's partner a whore goes unchallenged. Can you recall anyone being pinged for slut-shaming? Both are gross. Both reduce people to stereotypes. Both deserve a whack from the tribunal. But one is rightly framed as a societal wound and the other as 'banter'. The sting comes from the intention of the person using a slur – trying to weaponise identity. And that's where the AFL should have grown a backbone: called out Rankine's word as devastating and archaic, penalised it fast as per precedents. No emergency diversity training needed! Wow! Anyone tempted to use any slurs in any workplace should be dealt with fast and decisively. Actions have consequences. So yep, let's treat homophobia seriously – and AFL, maybe stop being obsessed with looking serious rather than being serious.
Sydney Morning Herald
26 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The AFL's dithering over slur shows they're not ready to embrace an Ian Roberts moment
We care about you, absolutely. But your sexuality? About as interesting as your matcha order. Tons of AFLW players are gay and crowds love them. Sponsors love them. Nobody is throwing rotten tomatoes or slurs. Yet, we keep hearing 'homophobic attitudes' are what's keeping AFL players in the closet. I could be wrong, but I reckon the first bloke brave enough to come out will be a hero – our Ian Roberts moment. He'll be lauded, applauded, respected. I hope so, jeepers, I hope so. Like most of you, I have skin in this game with LGBTQI family and friends. And that means I know the AFL should not have dragged out this sorry episode for a week of 'learning statements' around values. In AFL land, every offence has to be blown into a righteousness play with an 'I need to be better' narrative from remorseful players. The scripts never change. Player apologises. Player vows to 'educate himself.' Can we not? When my kids were little and something awful was said to them in the playground, I'd tell them this: If someone calls you a name and you're not that, don't let it bother you. If someone calls you a name and it's true, respect accuracy and don't let it bother you. I still think that's right. But how hard it must be to not feel wounded when you're called a 'f–––t'. Nobody should have to accept that. Maybe the issue we can fix right now is to stop treating professional athletes like emotional invalids. Loading I will punch myself in the face next time I hear 'we're wrapping our arms around' a bloke who behaves badly and then gets paid time off from his dream job as an AFL player to have a think about his issues. While we're on the subject, what bugs me too is that while homophobic slurs rightfully get called out, calling someone's partner a whore goes unchallenged. Can you recall anyone being pinged for slut-shaming? Both are gross. Both reduce people to stereotypes. Both deserve a whack from the tribunal. But one is rightly framed as a societal wound and the other as 'banter'. The sting comes from the intention of the person using a slur – trying to weaponise identity. And that's where the AFL should have grown a backbone: called out Rankine's word as devastating and archaic, penalised it fast as per precedents. No emergency diversity training needed! Wow! Anyone tempted to use any slurs in any workplace should be dealt with fast and decisively. Actions have consequences. So yep, let's treat homophobia seriously – and AFL, maybe stop being obsessed with looking serious rather than being serious.
Perth Now
26 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Rankine steps away amid homophobic slur fallout
The Crows star cops a four-game ban for using a homophobic slur. Adelaide star Izak Rankine hasn't been at the club since revelations of his homophobic slur in last week's win over Collingwood that resulted in a four-week ban that has polarised the AFL community. Crows chief executive Tim Silvers confirmed that the 24-year-old, who would need a finals miracle, and at least one Adelaide loss, to return in the grand final, would be given extra time away from the club as he deals with the fallout. Several commentators have lashed the AFL and league chief executive Andrew Dillon for backing away from a proposed five-match ban after hearing 'compelling medical submissions' that included the impact on Rankine's mental health. Silvers said Rankine was 'certainly doing it tough' and would be granted time away. 'He's embarrassed, he's remorseful, he's regretful, he hasn't actually been back to the club since it happened,' Silvers told Triple M Breakfast in Adelaide. 'I think he's going to go through a little bit of a reset and maybe take off for a couple days. We will hope to get him back in the next week or so.' Crows coach Matthew Nicks said the 25-year-old knew he had a tough period ahead. 'He's got some support from the club there for him and he's doing all right, disappointed but doing all right,' Nicks said after training at West Lakes. 'We're locked into this weekend. 'We've put support around Izak because it's a tough thing to go through and he knows it's going to be tough from here, but we will work our way through it.' Rankine's punishment is the same as handed to West Coast's Jack Graham, who self-reported a slur, but less than others handed out across the past two seasons at both AFL and VFL level. Rankine said he was 'committed to educating myself and being better' after being handed a four-week ban for the homophobic slur. The ban was confirmed after a drawn-out process during which the Crows argued that finals games counted for more after the AFL proposed a five-game penalty. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon speaks to the media during a press conference. Credit: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images It means the Crows would need to lose a home qualifying final, then win a semi-final and preliminary final for Rankine to be available for the grand final, with just one match remaining in the home-and-away season. The penalty was confirmed on Thursday afternoon, nearly two days after the AFL proposed a five-match ban in line with other recent penalties. But the Crows were given extra time to form a response and cited the impending grand final performance of US rapper Snoop Dogg, pitching it as hypocrisy given his history of homophobic remarks. Rankine, who called his Magpie opponent a 'f****t' didn't leave his home for days after being interviewed by the AFL's integrity department, with a full week of focus on his actions. On Thursday afternoon, the league confirmed the ban and in a statement the AFL said Rankine 'rang the Collingwood player to personally apologise and he fully co-operated with the subsequent investigation', which impacted its decision. The league also said the 'compelling medical submissions' made by Rankine played a role in the size of the suspension being smaller than other offenders.
