Rankine asks for trade
IZAK Rankine has told the Gold Coast Suns he wants a trade to the Adelaide Crows.
Rankine told club officials on Monday of his desire to join the Crows, who have reportedly offered him a five-year deal worth about $4m.
It is a big loss for the Suns but one they weren’t shocked by given the money offered to the 22-year-old who is set to return to his home state of South Australia.
Rankine has been grappling with the decision in recent weeks, weighing up the enormous pay packet against the connection he has with the Suns playing group.
Members of the Suns leadership group tried to convince him to remain at the club and came close to doing so but ultimately Rankine opted to leave.
Gold Coast were unwilling to break the bank to keep Rankine and were understood to be offering about $650,000 a season.
Under coach Stuart Dew the club has been staunch about no longer paying overs to retain or recruit players.
Instead they have improved the culture and relied on the football program to keep players engaged.
The biggest question will now be what Gold Coast and Adelaide believe is a fair trade for the goal sneak, who arrived with pick 3 of the 2018 AFL draft.
It’s understood the Suns are interested in picks over players and are already eyeing the Crows fifth selection in this year’s draft.
Rankine has played 48 games for the Suns, kicking 57 goals. His form has been up and down in the early stages of his career, with Rankine showing glimpses of becoming an elite match winner between some injury problems while often drawing the opposition’s best defender.
He has been shut out of some games but has continued to improve on the back of his defensive pressure in the forward half, averaging 6.2 score involvements and a goal assist in 2022, ranking elite in both areas.
Suns general manager of player talent and strategy Craig Cameron said the club was disappointed to lose Rankine and was determined to garner the best deal possible for the forward. “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 is confident it has the playing stocks to cover Rankine. Northern Territory product Malcolm Rosas has been a livewire since making his debut in 2021, Ben Ainsworth is in career-best form and Alex Sexton showed he still has a lot to offer after booting six goals in the club’s win over North Melbourne at the weekend.