Izak Rankine will play his first game in seven months when the Crows host the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. The return is heavy with meaning. Adelaide's ace is more motivated after growing as a leader in the aftermath of his AFL ban for a homophobic slur, according to coach Matthew Nicks.
The suspension came last August. Rankine received a four-game suspension for a slur against Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor in an August 16 match, upending Adelaide's season. The 25-year-old watched on in September as the minor premiers faltered in the finals, exiting in straight sets without winning a single quarter against Collingwood or Hawthorn at home. The distraction was real, but so was the loss of a genuine match-winner. Rankine was included in the 44-man All-Australian squad for the first time after being one of only four players in the AFL to average at least 20 disposals and one goal per game in 2025.
On the off-field front, there has been substantive movement. The Adelaide Football Club has recently confirmed it will join Pride in Sport as a member and deliver face-to-face Pride in Sport training across all levels of the organisation before the end of the financial year. Rankine initiated direct contact with the Rainbow Crows. He met with the organisation's founder for an open and respectful discussion about the events, their impact, and future actions.
Nicks is unambiguous about what he is seeing in training. Just on preparing himself, knowing it was actually Round 2 of 2026 - right from the start, he knew: 'This is what I will serve and this is the time I will be back and I'll make sure I'm ready to go, I want to be the best for my teammates that I possibly can be'. The coach noted that Izak has done a hell of a lot of work on what he's doing off-field, he's an incredible human; what he's doing on-field, the way he's going to hold himself. I am really confident on what you're going to see from him.
There is a fitness caveat. The star forward/midfielder was unable to play in Adelaide's pre-season matches due to a hamstring strain. But he's also got a different game: he's explosive, he's an endurance athlete with elite speed, so we will just let him loose.
Adelaide arrives off a genuine statement: they travelled to the MCG in Round 1 and secured a statement 14 point victory over Collingwood, beating them at the home of footy for the first time since 2014. The Bulldogs, though, have been startling. They started the year with a thrilling five-point comeback win over the reigning premier Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in Opening Round, followed by an absolute demolition of the GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium in Round 1 by 81 points. Marcus Bontempelli has been immense with dominant performances in both games, while Aaron Naughton has started the season the way he finished last year and booted six goals and took 11 marks in the Giants rout alone.
The Crows have real midfield talent and forward punch to match. The question Friday night will answer is whether Rankine's return, buoyed by months of reflection and renewed commitment, can provide the spark Adelaide needs. A premiership window is real for both sides. In footy, trust earned through genuine accountability matters as much as pace and disposal efficiency.
You can watch the match live via the AFL or on Kayo Sports from 7:40 pm AEDT.