AFL 2022: Gold Coast forward Izak Rankine requests trade to Adelaide to set stage for tense negotiations

Izak Rankine wants to play for his hometown Adelaide next season, informing a disappointed Gold Coast in his exit meeting on Tuesday.

Izak Rankine has run out for the Suns for the last time, after requesting a trade to the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

Izak Rankine has played his final game for Gold Coast.

News Corp revealed in early August that the Crows were making a major play for Rankine and increasingly confident he would request a trade home to South Australia.

The Suns confirmed on Monday the richly talented forward, who is out of contract, requested a trade in his exit meeting on Tuesday, paving the way for him to join Adelaide in October.

Early reports of a five-year offer worth as much as $800,000 per season are believed to be exaggerated.

Rankine and Jack Lukosius were consistently linked with a return to South Australia after Gold Coast selected them early in the 2018 draft but the latter inked a four-year extension in June.

Izak Rankine will play for the Crows next season but a deal must get done first. Picture: Getty Images

Most in the industry expected for much of the season that Rankine, who grew up supporting the Crows, would follow suit but Adelaide convinced him to leave as Matthew Nicks tries to supercharge the club’s rebuild.

The 22-year-old emerging star enjoyed a career-best campaign this year, kicking 29 goals in 18 games to be a pivotal part of the Suns’ vastly improved season.

He missed Gold Coast’s round 23 win over North Melbourne with a shoulder injury.

Rankine’s departure is a blow for Gold Coast but it will now focus on scoring a hefty return for him at the trade table, almost certainly starting with Adelaide’s first pick this year.

The Crows’ selection will slide to No.6 once Brisbane matches a bid for father-son prospect Will Ashcroft, the consensus best player in this year’s draft class.

Izak Rankine was a popular teammate in his four seasons at Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

Suns list boss Craig Cameron said club officials were naturally “disappointed” to lose Rankine after club leaders tried to sway him to stay in recent weeks.

“We have created a football club where our players and staff are committed to success, so we’re disappointed with his decision,” Cameron said.

“We’ve provided an environment and support network around Izak since he was drafted to help him play his best football and it’s disappointing that journey won’t continue.”

Gold Coast will console itself in the knowledge fellow young talents Ben King, Lukosius, Ben Ainsworth, Elijah Hollands, Mac Andrew and Connor Budarick all recommitted this year.

The Suns also re-signed club champion and co-captain Touk Miller until 2027 in November.