“Bemused” dual premiership Kangaroo David King believes if star player Izak Rankine isn’t reinjected into the Crows’ midfield brigade and his form doesn’t improve soon, there’ll be “alarm bells everywhere at Adelaide”.
The Crows, who finished minor premiers last year before a straight-sets finals exit, head into Thursday night’s Gather Round clash against Carlton with a 1-3 record.
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And the highly-talented Rankine must be given every chance to help the Crows flip their fortunes according to King, who’s been left frustrated by coach Matthew Nicks’ use of Rankine so far this season.
Rankine had a career-best 2025 campaign booting 31 goals and averaging 20.6 disposals and 4.4 clearances from 22 matches to emerge as one of the AFL’s most damaging midfielder-forwards.
But Rankine so far this season hasn’t been unleashed in the midfield as often, attending just 16 of the Crows’ 79 centre ball-ups to date. He was given zero on-ball time against Geelong in Round 3, while he spent just 40 per cent and 28 per cent of game time in the middle against the Bulldogs (Round 2) and Dockers (Round 4) respectively.
And despite spending more game time closer to goal, Rankine has still only managed three goals from three games. He’s also down on average in disposals (12 – down from 21 last year), contested possessions (5.0 – down from 11.3) and score involvements (3.7 – down from 6.6).
Rankine missed Round 1 due to suspension, but his pre-season was also hampered by a late hamstring injury.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview, King said he’d been left “really bemused” with how Nicks is using Rankine.
“I don’t know what’s going … If the player has got an issue, don’t play him. But if he’s right to go, you’ve got to release the brakes,” King told Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.
“I don’t understand the use of him at the moment of pretty much as a forward. I don’t understand him not going in at centre bounces.
“I just feel like they’ve prioritised (Josh) Rachele over Rankine – and Rachele’s going OK, but he’s not Izak Rankine. Izak has the capability of being the best player in the competition
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“You’ve got to put him where the footy is … They are a vanilla midfield without this guy in there. He’s their point of difference.”
King pointed to how the Bulldogs, Demons and Dockers had prioritised more on-ball exposure for Ed Richards, Kysaiah Pickett and Shai Bolton respectively this year – moves that were paying dividends for all three clubs to date.
But King said Rankine had just as much high-end talent and match-winning potential as the star rival trio.
“You’ve got to set him up to succeed, not orchestrate his demise,” he said.
“This is not serving them well, the way they’re handling him. So you make a decision to pick him and play him then support him.”
King warned if the Crows couldn’t help Rankine recapture his best midfield form, “it’ll be alarm bells everywhere at Adelaide – and not just the wins and losses”.
“It’ll come for the coach quickly. I just feel like it’s a city prepared to turn quick on Matty Nicks if he doesn’t get this team rolling,” King said.
“Yep, fantastic last year and run aground late – maybe because of Izak and maybe there’s something there, I don’t know.
“I’m just looking at this thinking: ‘How is this happening when you’re not picking this guy in a position that can dominate a game of football?’”
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said it was time for the Crows to release the shackles off Rankine.
“I can’t understand it, I’m not sure why,” Montagna told Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview.
“I think there maybe has to be something wrong with him, but even if there is something wrong with him, there’s no harm in starting in a centre bounce, it’s no different to starting at half-forward.
“Get him in there and find out what his ceiling is this year and why he’s not reaching the levels he has in the past.”
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