Top draft hope Izak Rankine reveals why he'd love to play alongside Eddie Betts at the Crows
POTENTIAL No. 1 draft pick Izak Rankine has revealed star Crow Eddie Betts has become his unlikely mentor and he’d love to play alongside him next year.
POTENTIAL No. 1 draft pick Izak Rankine has revealed star Crow Eddie Betts has become his unlikely mentor.
As Adelaide — currently armed with three of the first 19 picks in this year’s AFL national draft — considers packaging selections to make an audacious bid to move up the order to secure Rankine or fellow South Australian star Jack Lukosius, the West Adelaide speedster said Betts is playing a key role in his development.
And — on a day it was confirmed clubs will be able to trade picks throughout the national draft for the first time — Rankine said he would love to saddle up alongside Betts in the Adelaide forward line next year.
“I’d love to play for the Crows, they are the team I grew up barracking for,’’ Rankine, 18, said.
“And to play with Eddie would be extra special because he’s one of the players I model my game on, along with (former Hawk) Cyril Rioli, and has been helping me throughout the year.’’
Adelaide has been given more draft ammunition with confirmation clubs can make late plays to move up the draft order if a player they desperately want is still available.
This year’s draft, likely to be held at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, will for the first time be staged over two days on November 22 and 23.
Rankine, who topped Champion Data’s player ratings at the past two AFL under-18 championships and is its highest-rated draft prospect, met Betts when he trained with the Crows for a week in December as part of the AFL Academy program.
He told The Advertiser the pair had an instant connection and that 558-goal small forward Betts had “looked after me’’ ever since.
“Eddie invited me over to dinner and we’ve kicked on from there,’’ Rankine said.
“We’ve stayed in contact and message each other about different things.
“It’s just cruising, having good chats and giving me advice and stuff.
“We’ve come from the same (indigenous) background, so we have that connection and look after each other.
“He gives me advice to make sure I stay on track and continue doing the right things to chase my dream of playing in the AFL.’
Rankine, who has played 21 SANFL league games for the Bloods, is considered the ideal long-term replacement for Betts, who turns 32 in November and has shown signs of slowing down this season.
Dual Crows premiership coach Malcolm Blight has suggested Rankine would be a perfect fit for Adelaide.
“I’d rather stay in SA and play my football here but wherever I go I’ll go and I’ll just play my role,” Rankine said.
“It’s always been my dream to play AFL, so I’m happy to do that anywhere.’’
Rankine and Lukosius could end up at struggling Gold Coast, which is likely to have picks two and three after losing key forward Tom Lynch to free agency.
Triple premiership coach Mick Malthouse claims he’d heard that some top draft prospects had had conversations with their player managers about avoiding being drafted by the Suns, which promoted their chief executive Mark Evans to threaten legal action.
But Rankine and Lukosius say they are happy to go to whatever club drafts them.
“Like Izak, I’m a Crows supporter who would love to stay in Adelaide alongside family and friends but I’ll just be grateful to be drafted and be more than happy to go to any club,’’ Lukosius said.
andrew.capel@news.com.au
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