AFL trades: Latest news and whispers as player movement heats up
With family in the stands, Izak Rankine put on a show at the Adelaide Oval against the Power in late June. It proved to be the beginning of the end of his time at the Suns.
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Circle June 26 on the calendar.
That’s when everything shifted for Izak Rankine, surrounded by family – young and old – in the Adelaide Oval change rooms after Gold Coast nearly stunned the Power.
Rankine was excellent that day, too, kicking three goals and laying four tackles.
The thought of dazzling South Australian crowds, with an army of family among them, every second week for the club – Adelaide – he grew up idolising became irresistible.
It was not long after that when the Suns first started becoming concerned that the pull of home was suddenly incredibly strong for Rankine.
Until then, coach Stuart Dew had publicly, and repeatedly, declared his confidence in retaining the exquisitely skilled forward, especially after watching him buy a home there mid-year.
They flew Rankine’s family north two weekends ago, but by then it was effectively too late.
News Corp revealed in early August that the Crows were making a major play for Rankine and increasingly confident they were going to get their man.
On Tuesday, that became a reality, when he officially requested a trade to Adelaide.
Gold Coast’s list management team was understandably giddy on the night of the 2018 draft after selecting Rankine third overall, one spot behind another South Australian, Jack Lukosius.
It was one of the AFL’s worst-kept secrets that the Crows would happily bring him home if, and when, he wanted to.
That moment presented in the period after the round 15 clash with Port Adelaide.
There was another critical juncture mid-year, when Essendon’s bold five-year, $4 million-plus offer turned Rankine’s head, even if it didn’t quite convince him to become a Bomber.
What it did was get him thinking about the possibility of leaving, which, in a funny sort of way, played into Adelaide’s hands perfectly.
Rankine’s family life is complicated, as has long been whispered about in AFL circles.
His parents are no longer together and the belief in clubland was it was better for him to be anywhere but South Australia.
But Rankine is 22 and four years wiser than the richly talented boy who first jetted to Queensland. Family is important to him.
There is also the matter of his remuneration, which seems to climb by the day, depending on what you read or listen to.
The Suns’ annual offer was somewhere in the vicinity of $650,000.
Rankine is expected to earn more than that per season as a Crow, based largely on his immense potential and breakout year – but not $150,000 more, as is being bandied about.
The difficulty now is figuring out what the young star is worth, with Adelaide’s pick five, which will be No.6 once Brisbane matches a bid on Will Ashcroft, considered the starting point.
Carlton’s Adam Cerra deal is being used as an example of what Gold Coast could fetch in return for Rankine.
The Blues sent pick six, which slid two further places back after father-son bids, and a future third-round selection to Fremantle for Cerra.
There are obvious parallels, given both Cerra and Rankine are top-five picks who requested a trade back to their home state after four seasons in the system.
But there are also differences: Cerra had played 76 matches to Rankine’s 48 and left after consecutive top-five best and fairest finishes, including a third placing in 2020.
It may change this season but Rankine has never been top 10 at the Suns.
Tuesday was the calm before what will very likely be an October storm when the Suns and Crows face off in the trade period.
Don’t expect much to change before then.
Your say: What should Crows offer in Rankine trade?
- Jon Ralph
Izak Rankine has officially asked for a trade to Adelaide in a massive coup for the improving Crows.
The 22-year-old No. 3 selection from the 2018 national draft told the Suns on Tuesday of his decision to return home to South Australia.
The massive five-year offer, revealed by the News Corp, could see him paid as much as $850,000 a season in a deal that would make him the highest paid player at Adelaide.
But the mouth-watering forward line the Crows could assemble would include Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Wayne Milera and Taylor Walker.
The Suns had hoped to change Rankine’s mind with a last-ditch attempt to keep him on the Gold Coast as they hosted his father at the club’s round 22 game against Geelong.
Suns coach Stuart Dew says the club will be able to survive without his forward line presence as Gold Coast attempts to build a more robust list profile.
But Rankine is such a dynamic matchwinning presence that his onfield gifts and his marketability will be badly missed.
Gold Coast could ask for multiple high picks for Rankine — possibly the Crows’ pick 5 and a second-round selection.
The Suns had hoped to build their own star-studded forward line with Ben King, Rankine, Mabior Chol, Ben Ainsworth and young emerging talents Malcolm Rosas and Joel Jeffrey.
Gold Coast would ask for multiple high picks for Rankine – possibly their pick 5 and a second-round selection.
The Suns had Alex Sexton kick six goals in only his fourth game of the season.
The medium forward is due a significant pay packet in the last year of his deal so he could be a solution to Rankin or the Suns could be open to offers for his services.
Uncontracted forward Josh Corbett kicked 23 goals in 16 games last year and four goals in two games this year and could also have suitors given Ben King’s return is likely to lessen his options.
Will he stay, or Will he go?
West Coast forward Junior Rioli will consider his future in coming weeks with the Eagles keen to offer him another deal.
Rioli had a tough year that involved the death of his father, with a decision on his football to include consideration about what is the best place for him to live given his family situation.
Richmond has not made inquiries about him despite relatives Maurice and Daniel playing at the Tigers.
West Coast’s No. 1 mid-season pick Jai Culley signed an 18-month contract so he will be at the Eagles next year.
Hawthorn’s James Blanck and North Melbourne’s Callan Dawson also signed 18-month deals with Essendon mid-season pick Jye Menzies expected to win another season after only signing a six-month deal.
Doggie about to get new deal
Western Bulldogs livewire utility Toby McLean is closing in on a new deal with the Dogs.
He has played only one AFL game as the unused sub in round 21 but coming off an ACL tear he has been in excellent form in the VFL, with his last outing a 34-possession, nine clearance effort.
Bobby’s decision
GWS small forward Bobby Hill will wait until his return to Perth in coming weeks to officially decide upon his future after a successful return to the VFL on the weekend.
Hill played his first game back from testicular cancer but is likely to request a trade to Collingwood.
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Originally published as AFL trades: Latest news and whispers as player movement heats up
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