AFL 2023: Nick Murray out for the season with ACL injury, Izak Rankine set for extended stint on sidelines

Adelaide has been hit with a double injury blow ahead of Showdown 54, with Izak Rankine set for an extended stint on the sidelines and Nick Murray tearing his ACL.

Crows coach Matthew Nicks with injured star Izak Rankine. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Adelaide defender Nick Murray’s season is over after scans revealed he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

And Izak Rankine might not playing again this season with the star forward set to spend up to the next four weeks on the sidelines.

The Crows announced the dual injury blows on Monday.

Murray landed awkwardly in a contest late in the third quarter of the Crows’ four-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

Despite it looking like he would line up in the fourth quarter, scans showed Murray had suffered an ACL injury.

Nick Murray has been a rock in defence for the Crows this year. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

But he is likely to miss the next 12 months after tearing his ACL against the Demons. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Crows high performance manager Darren Burgess said Murray would now require a knee construction.

“Obviously it’s shattering news for Nick and the team,” Burgess said.

“He’s been in great form and taken significant steps in his development in the past three years.

“Knowing the player he is, he will attack his rehab with the right attitude and be back bigger and better.”

Murray is the second Crows key defender to suffer an ACL injury this year, with leadership group member Tom Doedee rupturing his against Gold Coast in Darwin.

Izak Rankine’s hamstring injury is likely to keep him out for up to a month. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The Crows need to beat Port Adelaide in the Showdown on Saturday to keep their finals hopes alive.

They will have to do it without Rankine after he hurt his left hamstring in the dying minutes against the Demons.

It was the hamstring the star small forward had issues with while he was on the Gold Coast at the Suns.

Rankine was one of Adelaide’s best in its heartbreaking four-point loss, booting three goals before being helped from the field.

“While it’s disappointing to lose Izak, fortunately there was little to no tendon involvement so he will begin his rehab process and we anticipate that being 3-4 weeks before he returns to play,” Burgess said.

“Izak has had hamstring injuries in the past so he knows what is required with his rehabilitation and will work closely with our medical team to get back.”

There are five more home-and-away matches this season.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Nick Murray out for the season with ACL injury, Izak Rankine set for extended stint on sidelines