Izak Rankine flees the country in wake of four-match AFL ban for homophobic slur
Adelaide star Izak Rankine has taken extraordinary lengths to escape the spotlight in the wake of his AFL ban, flying overseas for a week-long getaway.
7NEWS can reveal Rankine departed Adelaide on Friday night and transited through Italy after being granted an extended leave of absence from the club.
It’s understood he will train at a European facility to prepare him for an unlikely grand final berth.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Earlier this week, Rankine was hit with a four-match ban for a vile homophonic slur directed at an opposition player in last week’s win over Collingwood.
He will only be free to play in this year’s decider should the Crows lose the first week of finals then win the semi and preliminary finals.
Rankine was in the air as his teammates defeated North Melbourne on Saturday to secure the minor premiership.
Adelaide successfully argued the ban down from five weeks to four on the back of “compelling medical submissions”, centred on his mental health.
The AFL on Thursday confirmed the ban, and that Rankine will also have to undertake further Pride in Sport training.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon didn’t elaborate on the compelling submission when facing the media on Thursday afternoon.
“We look at the specific instances, and in this one there were submissions made, including compelling medical submissions that were taken into account when arriving at the sanction,” he said.
Dillon also said the timing of the incident with it being on the eve of the finals played no part in the final outcome.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said this week a lot of people would be “doing it tough” in the wake of Rankine’s four-match suspension, but that his star player shouldn’t be portrayed as the victim.
Nicks said while he and the club were offering Rankine every support, there was no excuse for his slur directed at an opponent.
“Izak has got some great support around him,” Nicks told reporters on Friday.
“He has acknowledged where he went wrong and he’s worked his way through that in the right manner.
“He understands that we have got to be better in that space.
“But he’s not the victim in this. And by no means do we want that to be looked at that way — and he knows that.”
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
