Where Tigers will unleash ‘special talent'
The Tigers selected Hotton with one of their six first round picks last year despite him missing a chunk of the year through an ACL setback.
Hotton showed why he was once touted to go as high as pick No.1 prior to injury through strong performances in the VFL on return.
With the absence of spearhead Tom Lynch through suspension, Hotton could spend time deep inside the Tigers' 50.
But as Yze sees it, Hotton has the capacity to play deep, high and even pinch hit in the middle of the ground.
'He's just a pure forward, so we can play him at either line. He can go deep, he can play a high-forward role,' he said.
'Then he has pinch hit in the midfield in the VFL the last couple of weeks, so we might see him around the ball late in the game as well.
'We'd like to give him that exposure – whether it's this week or coming weeks.'
The 183cm Hotton can play taller than his height suggests, as he launches at the footy with consummate ease. Richmond will unveil another one of its top picks this Saturday in Taj Hotton (third from left). Michael Klein Credit: News Corp Australia
Yze says Hotton's areal power, craft at ground level and work ethic is why Richmond coaches, players and supporters are itching to see the young talent under MCG lights against Essendon.
'He's a special talent, when you've got the ability to jump and mark like he does and then at ground level do things, it's really hard to coach,' he said.
'It's the reason he went so high in the draft and the reason we rated him so highly going into the draft.
'There's all those things and then there's his work ethic, to get where he is today to be ready to play at AFL level after three VFL games is a credit to him.
'The spotlight is going to be on him like it was on Sammy (Lalor) earlier in the year and like it has been for all our first round picks.
'We've got to help him through that (and) he understands he's got a nice block of games to start feeling like he belongs at AFL level.'
Richmond, with three wins, also welcomes back defender Jayden Short from injury, while Nick Vlastuin will celebrate his 250th game.
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Daily Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
AFL's Snoop Dogg hypocrisy laid bare as Izak Rankine handed season-ending ban for homophobic slur
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Warning: This article contains language that some readers may find offensive The AFL world has slammed the league's clear double standards in the wake of Crows star Izak Rankine reportedly being handed a season-ending ban. On Tuesday night it emerged that Rankine will reportedly be handed a five-match ban for an alleged homophobic slur towards a Collingwood player on Saturday night. And while the reported five-game ban will see him miss the remainder of the 2025 season, the same league is paying another man, who has used the same slur in his songs, millions to entertain fans at the AFL's showpiece event, this year's AFL Grand Final. has reached out to the AFL for comment on the situation following the impending Rankine ban. 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. The AFL has long claimed, and rightfully so, that homophobia has no place in its game. But many pointed out it is incredibly hypocritical to ban a star forward for a premiership contender, all while holding a musical artist to a totally different set of standards. Snoop Dogg, real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, has previously been banned from entering Australia as a result of his long criminal record and music littered with homophobic and misogynistic language. In his song Doggz Gonna Get Ya, his lyrics include the slur that is set to cost Rankine dearly. 'I can't believe that Dogg would dis me, that f****t that punk he soft or sissy,' Snoop says in his 1998 hit. The AFL's awkward Snoop Dogg situation in the wake of Izak Rankin's ban. Image: Getty And it has led to former Australian cricketer turned broadcaster KG Cunningham teeing off on the AFL. 'I don't agree for one moment when these comments are made that the players should not be penalised,' he told Adelaide Now. 'But the AFL have done themselves no favour at all when on the one hand their leading artist, on the biggest day in the season, uses these lyrics and has done so many, many times. 'Yet on the other hand, they now see fit to potentially penalise another AFL player for doing exactly the same thing. 'So, where does the AFL stand on this? They're either for it or against it.' While Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said it was just another case of hypocrisy. 'They are about to suspend Adelaide player Izak Rankin for directing a homophobic comment to a Collingwood player last weekend, while paying Snoop Dog millions to entertain at the Grand Final,' Kennett wrote on X. 'Imagine if Adelaide make the GF, without their best player, and Snoop Dog plays. The AFL should stop being the arbiter of good taste. They always fail. Like their condemnation of Clubs with gaming machines, while they reap millions from gambling.' KG Cunningham is an Australian radio personality, and a former cricketer and football umpire. Photographed at his favourite location, West Beach IMAGE/Russell Millard Snoop Dogg is a famous US rapper. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images) AFL fans echoed a similar sentiment on X. 'The AFL is going to cause Izak Rankine to miss a Grand Final for using a word. At that same GF, the AFL is going to be paying Snoop Dogg millions to sing his songs,' one user wrote. 'His songs contain that exact same word. Plus many other offensive words. The AFL's hypocrisy is breathtaking.' While another said: 'So the AFL ban Rankine for the finals for using a homophobic slur a week after booking Snoop Dogg for the finals for $5 million, who uses the same slur in internet posts and lyrics in his songs. Couldn't make it up.' Never miss the latest sports news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. Izak Rankine reportedly handed season-ending ban In Saturday's clash between Collingwood and Adelaide, Crows star Rankine allegedly called his opponent a f****t. It led to the AFL launching an investigation into his conduct, which reportedly concluded on Tuesday, with the league determining the conduct was deserving of a season-ending ban. However, as of Wednesday morning, the AFL has not formally revealed the outcome of the investigation. But Footy presenter Eddie McGuire claimed he had the early mail on the call on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Tuesday night that the Crows star's season was over. 'Izak Rankine's season is over,' he said. 'Tonight the AFL will send a letter to Adelaide and my understanding is the suspension is for five weeks. His season is finished in 2025. 'The Adelaide Football Club will have the opportunity to appeal the sanction, because they could argue it is unjust.' Originally published as AFL's Snoop Dogg hypocrisy laid bare as Izak Rankine handed season-ending ban for homophobic slur
The Advertiser
31 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Disappointed Crows await Rankine ban for slur
Adelaide's players and coaches would be disappointed in Izak Rankine as they await the star's ban for a homophobic slur, a former Crows coach says. Rankine on Wednesday will become the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for making a homophobic remark to an opponent since April last year. The Crow, regarded as among the AFL's most talented players, is bracing for a ban of between three and five games. Ladder-leaders Adelaide have one home-and-away game remaining and will then host two finals. The Crows have lobbied for a three-match ban which offers Rankine a glimmer of hope of playing later in the finals when the club returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Scott Camporeale, Adelaide's caretaker head coach in 2015 after the death of Phil Walsh and an assistant coach at the club for nine years until 2019, was dismayed at Rankine's case. "You feel for the community, we're supposed to be standing up for these things," Camporeale told Adelaide radio station 5AA. "They are well-educated, these players ... they're the best-educated group in the country around race, gender, all those things. "And we continually keep having to go through these scenarios." Camporeale said in a pure football sense, Rankine's teammates and coaches would feel let down by the 25-year-old. "Matthew Nicks would be pretty disappointed as a senior coach," he said. "He is a September player, Izak Rankine ... he's the No.1 score involvement player for the Crows. "Can they still win it? I think they can, it's never just one player. "But he has got to be around the club, he has got to be supporting the group ... he needs to be there front and centre and support his teammates. "Most of them would be pretty disappointed because they know how integral he is to the team." 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 banned for three games and, the next month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs are opponents. Two VFL players have also recently been banned for homophobic slurs. Sydney defender Riak Andrew last month was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne. And 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. Adelaide's players and coaches would be disappointed in Izak Rankine as they await the star's ban for a homophobic slur, a former Crows coach says. Rankine on Wednesday will become the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for making a homophobic remark to an opponent since April last year. The Crow, regarded as among the AFL's most talented players, is bracing for a ban of between three and five games. Ladder-leaders Adelaide have one home-and-away game remaining and will then host two finals. The Crows have lobbied for a three-match ban which offers Rankine a glimmer of hope of playing later in the finals when the club returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Scott Camporeale, Adelaide's caretaker head coach in 2015 after the death of Phil Walsh and an assistant coach at the club for nine years until 2019, was dismayed at Rankine's case. "You feel for the community, we're supposed to be standing up for these things," Camporeale told Adelaide radio station 5AA. "They are well-educated, these players ... they're the best-educated group in the country around race, gender, all those things. "And we continually keep having to go through these scenarios." Camporeale said in a pure football sense, Rankine's teammates and coaches would feel let down by the 25-year-old. "Matthew Nicks would be pretty disappointed as a senior coach," he said. "He is a September player, Izak Rankine ... he's the No.1 score involvement player for the Crows. "Can they still win it? I think they can, it's never just one player. "But he has got to be around the club, he has got to be supporting the group ... he needs to be there front and centre and support his teammates. "Most of them would be pretty disappointed because they know how integral he is to the team." 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 banned for three games and, the next month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs are opponents. Two VFL players have also recently been banned for homophobic slurs. Sydney defender Riak Andrew last month was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne. And 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. Adelaide's players and coaches would be disappointed in Izak Rankine as they await the star's ban for a homophobic slur, a former Crows coach says. Rankine on Wednesday will become the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for making a homophobic remark to an opponent since April last year. The Crow, regarded as among the AFL's most talented players, is bracing for a ban of between three and five games. Ladder-leaders Adelaide have one home-and-away game remaining and will then host two finals. The Crows have lobbied for a three-match ban which offers Rankine a glimmer of hope of playing later in the finals when the club returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Scott Camporeale, Adelaide's caretaker head coach in 2015 after the death of Phil Walsh and an assistant coach at the club for nine years until 2019, was dismayed at Rankine's case. "You feel for the community, we're supposed to be standing up for these things," Camporeale told Adelaide radio station 5AA. "They are well-educated, these players ... they're the best-educated group in the country around race, gender, all those things. "And we continually keep having to go through these scenarios." Camporeale said in a pure football sense, Rankine's teammates and coaches would feel let down by the 25-year-old. "Matthew Nicks would be pretty disappointed as a senior coach," he said. "He is a September player, Izak Rankine ... he's the No.1 score involvement player for the Crows. "Can they still win it? I think they can, it's never just one player. "But he has got to be around the club, he has got to be supporting the group ... he needs to be there front and centre and support his teammates. "Most of them would be pretty disappointed because they know how integral he is to the team." 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 banned for three games and, the next month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs are opponents. Two VFL players have also recently been banned for homophobic slurs. Sydney defender Riak Andrew last month was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne. And 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.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
AFL news, updates: Izak Rankine handed season-ending ban in brutal blow to Adelaide Crows' premiership hopes as new explosive details into alleged behaviour come to light, homophobic slur revealed, wh
Adelaide star Izak Rankine has reportedly been handed a season-ending ban for a homophobic slur aimed at a Collingwood player on Saturday night, as explosive new details about the AFL's investigation into his conduct come to light. The contest in which the Crows emerged three-point victors was one of the games of the season, but it was overshadowed by an ugly moment where Rankine allegedly said a gay slur towards his Pies opponent. In the aftermath, the AFL launched a thorough investigation into the on-field comment and reportedly concluded on Tuesday that the conduct was deserving of a season-ending ban, in what would be a brutal blow for the Crows as they push for their first premiership since 1998. As of Wednesday morning, the AFL has not formally revealed the outcome of the investigation. 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. Rankine allegedly called his opponent a f****t, with the alleged incident coming just weeks after West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four matches for calling a GWS player a 'f***ing f****t'. Footy presenter Eddie McGuire claimed he had the early mail on the call on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Tuesday night that the Crows star's season was over. 'Izak Rankine's season is over,' he said. 'Tonight the AFL will send a letter to Adelaide and my understanding is the suspension is for five weeks. His season is finished in 2025. 'The Adelaide Football Club will have the opportunity to appeal the sanction, because they could argue it is unjust.' The reported suspension would see him miss a grand final as even a four-game ban could rub Rankine out for the rest of the season if the Crows won both qualifying and preliminary final. It is understood the Crows have written to the AFL highlighting extenuating circumstances, including another exchange with Collingwood defender Dan Houston. Houston is not the player Rankine delivered the alleged slur towards on Saturday night. Izak Rankine has reportedly copped a monster ban for using a homophobic slur. Image: Getty/Kayo And in another explosive twist, as the investigation enters its fourth day, Channel 7's Mitch Cleary revealed that Collingwood has played a major role in the inquiry into Rankine, bringing to light another alleged incident in a previous match. 'Izak Rankine allegedly delivered a similar slur towards a Collingwood opponent in a match several years ago,' Cleary wrote on X on Tuesday night. 'The incident hasn't been lost on Magpies players as the investigation into Rankine ramped up over the last 48 hours.' But understands that despite the AFL being made aware of the alleged prior indiscretion, the investigation into Rankine is only relating to Saturday's incident. Never miss the latest sports news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. The two players had several push and shoves throughout the match. On Monday night, Fox Footy's AFL 360 showed multiple incidents of Rankine engaging in heated exchanges with Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor. 'It was a tense night; it was physically played in close quarters, and Rankine was involved in various stages in heated battles with Isaac Quaynor, which then spilt to other opponents,' Gerard Whateley said on AFL 360. Watch the incidents in the video player at the top of the page. Izak Rankine is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season in a crushing blow to the Crows' premiership hopes. (Photo by) 'The other players on the field were well aware of what had been said, and yesterday Collingwood contacted Adelaide to inform them of what was known. Adelaide then handed it over to the AFL Integrity Unit, who have conducted their investigation today; both players have been spoken to, Rankine at about 4pm to understand his version of events. 'These are dealt with as summary judgments; there's no Tribunal hearing or the like … in a very real way, I think these have been Andrew Dillon's calls.' Rankine is understood to have apologised to the Pies player over the phone on Sunday. And according to his teammate Taylor Walker on Tuesday, the Crows forward is incredible remorseful and deeply regrets his actions. 'I spoke to him last night on the phone, and he's very remorseful, and he understands that he's made a mistake, and he'll accept whatever comes his way,' Walker said on Triple M Breakfast on Tuesday. 'He hasn't been outside, and yeah, he had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday, and until such time the sanction is handed down, I can't comment on that. 'What I can comment on is that our footy club is a very positive and supportive environment, and we will do, we will support ranks, however, we don't agree with what happened.' Rankine's AFL career started with the Suns in 2018, after being drafted as the third pick. Injuries delayed his debut until 2020, where he immediately took the sport by storm, booting three goals. Two years later, he was traded to his boyhood club, the Adelaide Crows, where he has transformed into one of the most lethal forwards in the AFL. AFL's previous bans for slurs This is the sixth such offence since the beginning of last year involving slurs, with the AFL slowly trending towards harsher bans as shown below: Jeremy Finlayson (April, 2024) – three game suspension Wil Powell (May, 2024) – five game suspension Lance Collard (July, 2024) – six game suspension Jack Graham (July, 2025) – four game suspension Riak Andrew (July, 2025) – five game suspension The AFL has made a point of compounding the penalty each time an offence occurs. However, the AFL has since gone back on its word stating at the end of last season they will consider 'specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses and does not consider that it is bound by the level of sanctions that it has previously imposed for similar incidents.' But with this being the sixth instance of an anti-gay slur being used in the past 16 months, the AFL is understandably fed up and wanting to make a statement.
