Crows’ favourite Sun is on the way home
IZAK Rankine is coming home.
Adelaide has secured the exciting forward in a deal centred around the Crows’ pick five in this year’s AFL draft after negotiations with Gold Coast dragged into the trade period’s second week.
Future third and fourthround picks are also headed to the Suns, who sent Rankine, pick 46 and a future fourthround selection to Adelaide.
The Crows have limited list spots but the pick in this year’s draft will likely go towards matching a bid on father-son prospect Max Michalanney, a promising defender.
News Corp revealed in early August that Adelaide’s hope to bring Rankine back to South Australia was suddenly a reality, and he requested a trade the week after the Suns’ season ended. The 22-year-old was the No.3 pick in the loaded 2018 draft, with the likes of Sam Walsh, the King twins – Max and Ben – Bailey Smith and Connor Rozee also taken in the top 10 that year.
Rankine is fresh from his best season, kicking 29 goals from 18 games, as well as averaging 13 disposals, one goal assist and a league-best 2.9 groundball-gets inside 50.
The Crows are set to not only use him as a forward but also plan to unleash him in the midfield. He signed a threeyear deal with the club.
Once Rankine’s mind was made up, Gold Coast turned its attention to maximising the return for him, with Adelaide’s top pick instantly targeted.
The Suns are also chasing more picks in next year’s draft to help them match bids for Academy prospects Jed Walter and Ethan Read, so that became an integral part of the Rankine deal.