Izak Rankine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Izak Rankine
Rankine with Adelaide in May 2025
Personal information
Full name	Izak Rankine
Nickname(s)	The Magician Ranks
Date of birth	(2000-04-23) 23 April 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team	West Adelaide (SANFL) Edwardstown (AdFL) Flinders Park (AdFL)
Draft	No. 3, 2018 AFL draft, Gold Coast
Debut	Round 6, 2020, Gold Coast v. Melbourne, at Sydney Showground Stadium
Position(s)	Small forward / Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Adelaide
Number	23
Career highlights
2x 22under22 team: 2020, 2022 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2020

Izak Rankine (born 23 April 2000) is a talented professional Australian rules footballer. He plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Before joining Adelaide, he was picked by the Gold Coast Suns as the third overall player in the 2018 AFL draft.

Early Life and Football Journey

Izak Rankine was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He comes from an Indigenous Australian family, with connections to the Kokatha and Ngarrindjeri peoples. He is related to famous football players like Gavin Wanganeen, who won the Brownlow Medal in 1993, and Danyle Pearce.

As a child, Izak enjoyed many sports, including basketball, rugby, and tennis. But he eventually decided to focus on Australian rules football. He started playing junior football for Edwardstown and Flinders Park. Later, he joined the junior teams at West Adelaide in the SANFL.

First Senior Games

In 2016, when he was just 16 years old, Izak played his first senior SANFL game for West Adelaide. He scored two goals in his very first match! He also played for South Australia in the national Under 18 Championships in 2017 and 2018. He was so good that he was named in the All-Australian team both years. In 2018, he helped South Australia win the national championship.

Izak went to Henley High School. There, he played school football with Jack Lukosius, who later became his teammate at Gold Coast. They were a big part of their school winning the 2018 SA Schools Championship.

AFL Career Highlights

Playing for Gold Coast (2019–2022)

The Gold Coast Suns chose Izak as their third pick in the 2018 AFL draft. In 2019, he faced some challenges with hamstring and hip injuries. These injuries stopped him from playing his first AFL game that year. However, the Suns believed in him and gave him a new contract until the end of 2022.

Izak finally made his AFL debut in 2020, in Round 6 against Melbourne. He played an amazing game, scoring three goals. This great performance earned him a nomination for the AFL Rising Star award in Round 6. After the 2022 AFL season, Izak asked to be traded to Adelaide, and the trade happened on October 10.

Joining Adelaide (2023–Present)

In 2023, Izak played his 50th career game in his first home match for Adelaide. This was in Round 2 against Richmond at Adelaide Oval. In April 2023, he received unfair comments on social media, which the AFL looked into. Later that season, he had another hamstring injury that kept him out for about three weeks. Even with the injury, Izak finished fourth in the Malcolm Blight Medal count, which is a big award for the club's best player, in his first year at Adelaide.

During the off-season, Izak changed his guernsey number from 22 to 23. This number was famously worn by Andrew McLeod, a legendary Indigenous Adelaide player. Other Indigenous players have also worn it. The number 23 also matches Izak's birthday, April 23.

In 2024, Izak took on a new role, playing more often as a midfielder. This change was very successful. He had many games where he got 20 or more disposals (times he touched the ball) and scored multiple goals. For Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Izak and his cousin Harley Hall designed Adelaide's special Indigenous guernsey. The team was even called Kuwarna for the occasion, celebrating their shared Ngarrindjeri heritage.

In May 2024, football expert David King said that Izak could become one of the top two or three players in the league very soon. In a close game against Collingwood at the MCG, Izak made a mistake by running too far without bouncing the ball. This gave away a free kick and stopped Adelaide from possibly winning the game. During this play, he injured his hamstring again, similar to his injury 10 months before.

In Round 17 against Brisbane Lions, Izak hit a Lions player and was suspended for four matches. After this, he again received unfair comments on social media from a Brisbane club member, who then lost their membership. Both clubs spoke out against this behavior. In his second game back from suspension, during the 56th Showdown against Port Adelaide, Izak was hit by Dan Houston. Izak was immediately concussed and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. Houston was banned for five matches for his actions.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season.

Personal Life

When he's not playing football, Izak Rankine enjoys making music. His cousin is in a relationship with Gold Coast player Sean Lemmens.

Izak's cousin, Harley Hall, is an Indigenous artist. They share their native Australian heritage. Together, Izak and Harley designed Adelaide's special Indigenous guernsey for 2024.

Izak is sponsored by Monster Energy. In 2025, AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey said Izak was one of the most popular players in the league.