Izak Rankine chats increasing his midfield minutes in 2025 and becoming a leader at Adelaide

Best known as a livewire forward, Izak Rankine has set the bar high for 2025 and put the heat on his coach to increase his time in the Adelaide engine room.

Adelaide star Izak Rankine wants to increase his midfield time next season.

Rankine, whose centre bounce attendances rose from two per cent in 2023 to 38 per cent this year, was hoping for a 50-50 split between on-ball and forward roles.

“I’m a forward at heart, but I want to play midfield and get the ball going forward so I can kick some more goals,” Rankine said.

“I definitely see myself doing 50-50 or whatever that may be, but definitely some more midfield time.”

Rankine was restricted to 15 games this past season due to a hamstring injury and four-game suspension.

Izak Rankine at training on Tuesday. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

He still finished eighth in the club’s best-and-fairest, but might have been on the podium and an All-Australian if he played more matches, such was his standout form.

Rankine said his hamstring issue had fully healed.

“You’ve always got to manage it over the years and with the history – I’ve done one every year,” he said.

“I’m looking to stay on top of that and hopefully don’t do one this year.

“I’m trying to do everything I can to make sure I can play as many games as I can this year.”

Rankine believed he had taken another step in his development this off-season, “trying to push everyone and push myself, take myself out of my comfort zone, and really build on last year”.

“I’m trying to become more of a leader, talking to the younger boys and getting them prepared,” he said.

Rankine wants to have more of an impact on Adelaide’s leadership. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Rankine was thrilled to be selected to represent the Indigenous All-Stars against Fremantle in Perth in February.

It will be the first all-stars match since 2015.

“When you go up against each other, you always give each other a little nod and have a little yarn before the game,” Rankine said.

“We always have each other’s back on and off the field, and whenever we see each other.

“We’re all pretty close.”

Rankine named Brisbane premiership forward Charlie Cameron as the all-stars teammate he was most looking forward to playng alongside.

“I grew up going for the Crows and I remember him when he was first starting,” he said.

“He’s explosive and kicks goals.”

Originally published as Izak Rankine chats increasing his midfield minutes in 2025 and becoming a leader at Adelaide