My Two Cents: Crow Izak Rankine and the power’s Jason Horne-Francis lead new breed of SA footy stars

They were brought back to SA via blockbuster trades, now these two standouts are leading a new breed of stars, writes Andrew Capel.

Brenton Phillips says it’s like picking a favourite child.

The long-time South Australian talent mentor has overseen the development of so many high quality SANFL juniors that he doesn’t want to rank them in order.

But he is prepared to put rising SA stars Izak Rankine and Jason Horne-Francis at the “very top’’ of his list.

“Without a doubt they would be right at the top,’’ said SANFL head of talent Phillips, who has been involved with the league’s development program, including as SA under-18s coach, since 2007.

“You could tell through the juniors that they were going to be outstanding players because of their extraordinary workrates and the fact that they play the game the right way.

“That’s with an attacking mindset, fast, aggressive and with a real desire to take the game on.

“That’s the way I believe the game should be played, so I love watching them go about it.’’

Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis breaks clear of the Western Bulldogs’ Adam Treloar (left) and Tom Liberatore at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Drafted to interstate clubs at picks 3 (Gold Coast) and 1 (North Melbourne) respectively at the 2018 and 2021 AFL national drafts, the dynamic duo quickly sought returns home.

West Adelaide product Rankine – an electrifying small forward/midfielder – was traded to Adelaide at the end of 2022 after playing 48 games and kicking 57 goals in four seasons for the Suns.

Horne-Francis – a tough, powerful midfielder who came through South Adelaide’s junior program – controversially moved to Port Adelaide at the end of the same season, having spent just one year at the Kangaroos, where he played 17 games and kicked four goals.

Now the pair – in just one and a half seasons back in Adelaide – have become the new faces of SA football.

As the SA football production line undergoes a renaissance – Port captain Connor Rozee, Adelaide skipper Jordan Dawson, Hawthorn’s Will Day, St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie and Geelong’s Tyson Stengle have joined seasoned veterans, dual Brisbane Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale and Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy, in becoming stars – Rankine and Horne-Francis are excitement machines who bring people through the gates.

They have the ability and desire to almost single-handedly carry their teams over the line.

Crow Izak Rankine dishes out a handball against the Giants at Adelaide Oval in Round 16. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Rankine, 24, did it against Greater Western Sydney in Round 16 when he had a remarkable

21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances, seven inside 50s, two goals and seven score involvements in the first half of the Crows upset win at Adelaide Oval.

Horne-Francis, 21, made a similar impact the following day against St Kilda in Melbourne when he willed the Power to victory, having 28 disposals, including a career high 24 kicks, seven inside 50s, four clearances and a goal.

“He’s going to be a scary player,’’ Port coach Ken Hinkley said.

“He just turned 21 a week ago and I think he’s an absolutely outstanding young player.’’

Horne-Francis backed up his standout display with a strong performance against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval last Saturday, illustrating his goalkicking prowess by kicking an equal career-high three goals from 20 disposals

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks described Rankine’s performance against the Giants as “great’’ while forecasting “I think there’s still a lot more to come from Izak’’.

2007 Geelong Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel declared Rankine was “one of the most watchable players in the game’’.

Jason Horne-Francis celebrates kicking one of his three goals for Port Adelaide against the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Izak Rankine celebrates kicking one of his two goals for the Crows against the Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Rankine was in contention for his first all-Australian selection this year before copping a lengthy ban for his off-the-ball bump on Lion Brandon Starcevich at the Gabba on Sunday.

He also missed three games earlier in the season with a strained hamstring.

Despite his setbacks, Rankine is the fifth-highest ranked player in Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings this year, with a rating of 17.7, highlighting how special he has been.

Only Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (20.4), Sydney’s Isaac Heeney (19.6), Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps (18.8) and Collingwood’s Nick Daicos (18.2) are ahead of him.

Rankine, who has blossomed with more time in the midfield this season, is the only small/general forward to rank as elite for disposals (19), contested possessions (10), forward-50 groundballs (2.5) and goals (2).

Horne-Francis, who is still a baby in football terms, having played only 55 AFL games, is on his way to super stardom.

He ranks as average for a midfielder for disposals (22.4) this season but his impact is highlighted by being one of only three on-ballers, along with Bontempelli and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca, to rank as elite for goals (1.1), score assists (1.6) and score involvements (7.7).

Izak Rankine in action for South Australia’s under-18s against Vic Metro in 2018. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Horne-Francis provides the gifted Power midfield with a hard edge, given his strength, power and combative nature.

While he was the first player selected at the 2021 draft, Phillips believes Rankine should also have gone at No. 1 in his draft year when Carlton swooped on ace Victorian midfielder Sam Walsh.

“I must preface that by saying I’ve got South Australian coloured glasses on but having watched Izak closely at under-18 level I just didn’t think there was a better player going around,’’ Phillips said.

“His talent is undeniable and so is his workrate. The intensity and speed he showed all the time at training was phenomenal and then you throw in his talent and it’s a pretty exciting package.

“As for Jason, what he was able to do at SANFL league level at 17, 18 years of age – I’ll never forget his preliminary final performance for South against Glenelg (in 2021) when he had 24 disposals and kicked 3.3 – you just knew he was going to be a star at the next level.’’

The promise is being fulfilled.

NUMBERS GAME

45

First quarter disposals between Port Adelaide midfield trio Connor Rozee (18), Zak Butters (14) and Ollie Wines (13) against the Western Bulldogs.

39

Points that GWS trailed Carlton by in the first quarter before winning by 12 – the biggest deficit the Giants have ever overcome.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“As a footy club we’ve got to grow the f*** up to be perfectly honest.’’ – Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick after the Suns’ loss to North Melbourne.

“You stick together as best you can. That’s what we’ve done. We’ve stuck together and stuck at the task.’’ – Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley after the 48-point win against the Western Bulldogs.