Houston faces massive ban for Rankine KO as Port future clouded

A Zak Butters-inspired Port Adelaide overcame a fierce Adelaide challenge to lock down a top-four finish with a hard-fought 22-point win in a spiteful Showdown marred by a sickening Dan Houston bump that left Crows star Izak Rankine concussed.

The third-quarter incident sparked an all-in melee with Adelaide players furious with Houston, with a clearly distressed Rankine taken from the field on the mini ambulance.

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The Power trailed by nine points at the main break, but clawed to a two-point lead at three-quarter time, with some Adelaide players losing their focus following Rankine’s departure, including Darcy Fogarty who gave away a 50m penalty, which led to a Francis Evans goal.

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Port kicked the only two goals of the heated third quarter and the first three of the final term to set up its 15th win of the season and secure a precious top-four berth.

But Ken Hinkley’s side will face a nervous wait to see how Houston’s bump is assessed by the Match Review Officer.

“This is a gigantic story,” Crows legend Mark Ricciuto said of the Houston bump on Fox Footy.

“There’s one game left (in the home-and-away season) and if that goes the wrong way for Dan Houston he might not be playing again this season.”

“He’s got that one wrong and it’s probably going to cost him his season,” Gerard Healy added.

The incident marred what was a classic Showdown contest, with the result leveling the storied rivalry at 28 wins each.

Butters was a thoroughly deserving Showdown Medal winner, the Power star with a record 42 possessions, 10 clearances and a goal.

Port started the round in second spot, ahead of GWS and Geelong by percentage, but was presented with the golden top-four opportunity after Fremantle and Brisbane lost earlier on Saturday.

The 3-2-1 (with NCA NewsWire)

3. HAS HOUSTON PLAYED LAST GAME FOR PORT?

It’s the big question to emerge from Saturday night’s spicy showdown — has Dan Houston played his last game for the Power? And how may weeks will he cop?

The star halfback faces a big ban for a huge bump on Izak Rankine that knocked the Crow out cold and ignited an all-in brawl between both clubs.

It comes with just one game left in the home and away season followed by at least two finals for Port, but potentially as many as four, meaning a five-match ban or more would result in Houston’s 2024 officially being over.

Of course, Houston’s future at the Power is clouded amid reports the 27-year is set to request a trade back to Victoria at season’s end.

“The big story I think is that we probably won’t see him again in a Port Adelaide jumper if it is true he wants to leave,” Saints legend Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy.

“I think it’s five (weeks), if there’s one game remaining and they play four finals, I find it very hard to see him play again (for Port).”

While Houston met Rankine front on and the collision didn’t appear to be malicious, it was still a monster hit that left Rankune in a bad way, so you sense he’ll be dealt with harshly.

Kangaroos great David King thinks it can’t be any less than Luke Parker’s six-week ban for his VFL hit, suggesting Houston could cop as many as eight matches.

“This is no longer part of our game. I don’t see how it can be less than Luke Parker, he went past the ball and got six (weeks).

“But we’ve taken this action out of the game,” King told Fox Footy.

“The trauma was evident instantly. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s eight weeks.

“They’ll come down hard on this one, it’s a really poor look for the game.”

The dual premiership Kangaroo thinks it’ll also “spark the red card debate”.

“Rankine was the best player for the Crows before that incident, he’s off the field concussed and Houston gets to play on,” he said.

“I think it’ll spark that discussion.”

Hawthorn champion Jason Dunstall pointed out that Houston is a “fair player,” but still thinks it’ll be a severe sanction.

“It’s a tough one. He’s a fair player and doesn’t do these things, but he made a conscious decision to bump,” he said.

“That means it’s probably at least a month.”

2. BOOS ALL AROUND AMID RACHELE’S CHEEKY SLEDGE

Josh Rachele was mercilessly booed by the Power faithful whenever he went near the ball following his tongue-in-cheek jibe about many of them not having many teeth.

And while he didn’t get the last laugh, he sure had his moment to give it to Port fans, who roundly booed him.

Rachele was quiet early, but he worked into the game in the second quarter and was all smiles after a brilliant goal 10 minutes before halftime.

Running onto a superb Lachie Murphy handball, the 21-year-old coolly slotted a sublime goal then ran to the boundary fence pointing out his own impressive pearly whites to the howling Port fans.

It was the first of three unanswered goals, Fogarty winning a foot race with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to soccer through his second major and Riley Thilthorpe marking strongly to kick his first.

But the Power fans had been in full voice well before that, with their side getting a tough run with the umpires.

The Crows won the first five free kicks of the match and went on to lead the count 8-1, much to the chagrin of the home fans, who voiced their displeasure loudly.

The tough run with the umps didn’t bother Butters, who was outstanding from the outset and racked up 21 touches in the first half, including seven clearances, with Jason Horne-Francis banging through two classy first-half goals.

He lost opponent Rankine at a forward 50 stoppage and stroked home a magnificent goal on his left then sought out the star Crow to let him know all about it, with the pair sharing a bit of niggle.

Rankine and Adelaide were up for the fight, the 24-year-old with two goals of his own in an enthralling first half with his night cut short in the third.

1. NOT SO SWEET

Jordon Sweet enjoyed a strong opening to the match, getting the best of Reilly O’Brien, but he was forced to the bench for treatment in the second term after a gruesome clash with teammate Esava Ratugolea.

Replays showed Sweet’s right elbow bending in a way that it’s not meant to, but he was able to get patched up and return to the field.

Lachie Jones was also in the wars, the defender left dazed after crashing to the turf in a collision with Thilthorpe and was eventually subbed out with Achilles soreness.

AS IT HAPPENED …

Izak Rankine kicked the opening goal of the night before celebrating with gusto as Crows fans erupted.

To no huge shock, Josh Rachele was booed loudly whenever he got the ball in response to his sledge during the week.

It was a back and forth first quarter played under intense heat.

“They are targeting Izak Rankine … it is a Showdown!,” Crows legend Mark Ricciuto said on Fox Footy.

“They are into Izak Rankine and so they should be. Going to try and put him off his game.”

Adelaide couldn’t take its chances in front of goal, but still led 2.5 (17) to 2.3 (15) at the first change.

Set up by a crafty ruck tap from Jordon Sweet, Jason Horne-Francis kicked an epic left footer goal to open the second term — his second major for the night — to give Port the lead back.

“I’m not sure if there’s anyone in the competition that has more impact on a game when they’re in full flight than Jason Horne-Francis,” Ricciuto said.

In a big injury concern, Sweet landed awkwardly on his knee in a contest and twisted it as he had to come from the ground. In a sigh of relief, the Port ruckman later returned to the game.

The hits kept coming, with Lachie Jones coming off second best in a marking contest.

Josh Rachele’s moment came late in the second term, kicking a ripper goal and the run before running to the fence and celebrating with a cheeky point to his teeth.

“He is asking for trouble!,” Ricciuto said with a laugh.

It was a tight start to the third term, with Adelaide missing a couple of chances to extend its lead.

Darcy Byrne-Jones broke the deadlock of no goals around halfway through the quarter, capitalising on a half chance to get Port within six points.

In wild scene, Dan Houston laid out Rankine with a monster bump in the third term, leading to a wild fracas between both teams.

“Look out! Bang! Houston with a big bump on Rankine! They are about to throw down in the Showdown!,” Fox Footy caller Adam Papalia said.

Rankine was out cold for some time and in the hands of trainers, eventually coming conscious and putting a thumbs up while stretchered off the ground in worrying scenes.

Meanwhile Houston faces a nervous wait from the Match Review Officer some two weeks out from finals. It comes amid the possibility Houston’s played both his last game for 2024 and for the Power amid reports he’s set to request a trade back to Victoria.

“He elected to bump and has KO’d him. I’m not sure there’s direct contact with the head. Ultimately he’s KO’d him,” Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy said.

Ricciuto added: “This is a gigantic story. If that goes there wrong way for Houston, he might not be playing again this season.”

Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: “That’s a big number, he’s expected to get a big number off that.”

Port led led 6.12 (48) to 6.10 (26 at the last change.

The Power kicked away in the last term including Willie Rioli kicking a clutch goal before celebrating with a Steph Curry-inspired ‘go to sleep’ taunt.

Showdown medallist Butters capped off a monster performance with the last goal of the game as the Power locked up a top four spot.

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