Why Gold Coast Suns player Izak Rankine chose to return to Queensland early

Suns forward Izak Rankine has flown back to the Gold Coast early in a bid to ensure he is ready to make his long awaited debut when the AFL season resumes.

SUNS forward Izak Rankine has flown back to the Gold Coast early in a bid to ensure he is ready to make his long awaited debut when the AFL season resumes.

Rankine was one of around 10 Gold Coast players who flew home interstate when the COVID-19 crisis brought the AFL to a halt.

But while everyone else is still at home, the 20-year-old has left his Adelaide home to continue his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury on the Gold Coast.

“Izak is maturing a lot as a player,” Suns high performance manager Alex Rigby said.

“We chatted to him quite a bit and we know back on the Coast he can hook up with different players with training and be engaged with the group.

Izak Rankine in action during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on December 09, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

“He made a really mature call to come back early and immerse himself here.”

The number three pick from the 2018 AFL draft is a week into his 14-day quarantine, running on a treadmill at home while living with teammates Sam Collins and Corey Ellis.

Gold Coast’s team for their second game this year could have some major changes given the club’s football department believe all of their list will be available for selection, including those who were returning from injury including Rory Thompson, Wil Powell, Charlie Ballard and potentially Anthony Miles.

THAILAND TEXT TO SUNS SIZZLER

HOW EUROPE TRIP CHANGED DEW’S COACHING

CARPARK KICK FROM SKILFUL SUN

Suns football manage Jon Haines said the club had put not date on when the other interstate players were needed back in Queensland but remain in regular contact with them, hosting a zoom meeting for both the players and parents earlier this week.

“We have been discussing that pretty frequently each week,” Haines said.

“It is challenging having no end date at the moment and the level of uncertainty that creates. “We haven’t got a set date in mind for when the players need to be back.

“We have spoken to all our interstate players this week along with their parents and player manages to get a handle on how they are going and are they taking the time to make an assessment of when is the right time to come back.

“A large part of that is do they feel they are ready? It isn’t really dictated by the club in this case because we don’t have an end date to work backwards from.”

.