Adelaide Crows track watch: Izak Rankine’s injury scare, Isaac Cumming deployed in new role

There were some tense moments in Adelaide on Monday when Izak Rankine was forced off the track. SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON has the details and plenty more from Crows training.

Recruit Isaac Cumming was back in full training and he could be in line for some time in a different position for Adelaide in 2025.

It comes as Izak Rankine sent a minor scare through the Crows camp when he hobbled off in some discomfort with an ankle injury - but he returned to the sweltering pre-season session on Monday and completed it.

Rankine went down early on in the Crows’ session at Richmond Oval after hurting his left ankle in one of the drills Matthew Nicks was running.

While he looked to be in some pain and went down the race he emerged about 10 minutes later and in a good sign for the Crows he completed the rest of the session.

Rankine tweaked his ankle during training. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The Crows star reaches towards the painful area. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Rankine is then helped off the ground. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Trainers survey the damage, which luckily is not severe. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Back in action. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Apart from ruckmen Kieran Strachan and Lachlan McAndrew the Crows had a full contingent of players on the track for the testing session.

Cumming was back in full training for the first time after hurting his hamstring prior to the Christmas break - after doing some drills last week.

While the former GWS player was in the backline for the weaker white team during match sim, prior to that when the Crows broke into their respective lines for some work he was with the midfield group - indicating that he could spend some time on the wing for his new side.

Also in the midfield group for that part of the session was Rankine and Josh Rachele.

Nicks lauded Rachele’s pre-season to date when talking to fans this month and the young gun did impress on Monday.

In match sim he was playing as a half-forward and had some good moments, but was not able to finish off his work.

Rankine spent nearly all of the match sim in the midfield, with the Crows set to have his split between the engine room and the forward line similar to when he was really firing in 2024.

WHAT CAUGHT THE EYE

•Former Giant James Peatling started on the wing for the stronger blue side during match sim, but he quickly found himself doing some good work on the inside.

His hands in particular were impressive.

•Dan Curtin was playing as a forward for the blue team after spending the first half of pre-season as a midfielder.

The former No. 8 draft pick had some nice moments, especially with his hunt around the ball, in the forward line.

•Crows talisman Taylor Walker did not take part in match-sim after doing the first half of Monday’s session but don’t be surprised if Adelaide roll with a three-tall plus Curtin forward line come Round 1.

Taylor Walker tussles with his skipper. Picture: Brenton Edwards

•Match sim basically was the Crows’ probables against possibles.

Along with Cumming - who could have been on the A team but was coming back from injury - on the white side was Sam Berry, Hugh Bond, Lachie Murphy and No. 4 draft pick Sid Draper.

Despite being on what looked to be the B’s again, Draper is still expected to be right in the mix for Round 1 as the Crows continue to ease him in to pre-season at times.

Rory Laird was in the backline for the blue team as a return to defence looks locked in for 2025 while Matt Crouch was around the ball for the blue team as well.

Adelaide went at it on Monday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

•Jake Soligo had a breakout 2024 campaign but could blossom even more in 2025.

His running has caught the eye in particular and he is looming as a key part of the Crows first-choice midfield this year.

•Observing the Crows’ training session was Darryl Franklin - the chief of staff of four-time NFL championship winners Green Bay Packers.

After Nicks went to America prior to Christmas as part of a professional development trip, Franklin has come to Australia to see how the Crows go about things.

He has spent six years at the Packers, working closely with head coach Matt LaFleur, serving as his main liaison to the various departments throughout the organisation.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows track watch: Izak Rankine’s injury scare, Isaac Cumming deployed in new role