Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius will play for Henley High in state school football knockout grand final
THEY are tipped to be first-round picks at this year’s AFL national draft, but Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius are this week focused on helping their school clinch a historic piece of silverware.
- Greatest ever school teams: Brighton and Henley
- Greatest ever school teams: Rostrevor and Sacred Heart
- Greatest ever school teams: PAC and St Peter’s
- Greatest ever school teams: Immanuel and St Michael’s
THEY are tipped to be top-five prospects at this year’s AFL national draft, but Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius are this week focused on helping their school clinch a historic piece of silverware.
Rankine and Lukosius will line-up with Henley High in the state school football knockout grand final against Prince Alfred College next Tuesday.
Henley High is aiming for its first state school football title since 1980.
The school lost to PAC by three points in last year’s decider.
West Adelaide midfielder/forward Rankine helped Henley reach the grand final, featuring in the team that beat Rostrevor 9.4 (58) to 7.8 (50) in yesterday’s preliminary final at Woodville Oval.
Woodville-West Torrens tall forward Lukosius did not play after being struck down with a cold.
But Henley High football manager Ben Kane said both state under-18 representatives would be available for the decider.
“Izak played (against Rostrevor), but with communication with West Adelaide, we were just mindful of his time on ground, so we restricted him to a half,” Kane said.
“He contributed really well and I was really impressed with his input with the team.
“He had several score involvements and had some really good pressure acts which is a big part of his game.
“Jack had a bit of a bad cold, so we rested him.
“But he’s been fantastic. He’s been sitting up with me in the coaches box, watching the forward line.
“He will also be available for selection next week and I am very confident they will both play.”
Rankine, 18, produced a five-goal display for SA to lead it to its first AFL under-18 division one national championship since 2014.
The performance helped push him into contention to be the first South Australian selected at No. 1 since Carlton took Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs, who is now at the Crows, in 2006.
Fellow Croweater Lukosius is also a chance to be taken at No.1.
PAC enters Tuesday’s game undefeated and having claimed the Messenger Shield after beating Rostrevor in their college footy clash last weekend.
Henley’s team also includes Trent and Jase Burgoyne, sons of Port Adelaide premiership star Peter Burgoyne, Jackson Mead (son of inaugural Power best and fairest winner Darren Mead) and Luke Edwards (son of Crows dual premiership great Tyson Edwards).
