Izak Rankine: AFL Career, Background, Height, and Speed

There aren’t many AFL players who can make a 24-metre sprint look like a casual jog. Izak Rankine, the Adelaide Crows forward, is one of them — and that explosive speed is only part of what makes him one of the most watchable players in the league.

Born: 23 April 2000 ·
AFL Club: Adelaide Football Club ·
Position: Forward / Midfielder ·
Height: 179 cm ·
Draft Pick: No. 3 (2018 AFL National Draft) ·
Total AFL Games (as of 2025): 115

Six career stats that define the arc so far, from debut to 2025.

What is Izak Rankine’s background?

Early life and junior career

• Born 23 April 2000 in South Australia (Gold Coast Suns)
• Made senior SANFL debut for West Adelaide at age 16 in 2016, kicking two goals (Rookie Me Central)
• Named All-Australian at underage level in 2017 (Rookie Me Central)
• Continued to dominate in 2018 and helped South Australia win the under-18 championship (Rookie Me Central)

Rankine’s junior career marked him as an elite prospect years before he set foot on an AFL field. Playing against men in the SANFL as a 16-year-old gave him a physical edge that would later translate to senior footy.

Draft and AFL debut

• Selected with pick No. 3 in the 2018 AFL National Draft by Gold Coast Suns (Gold Coast Suns)
• AFL debut came in 2020 (Gold Coast Suns)
• Played 18 games in a breakout 2021 season (Gold Coast Suns)
• Traded to Adelaide Football Club in October 2022 after 48 games and 57 goals for Gold Coast (Adelaide Football Club)

The implication: Rankine’s path from West Adelaide to the Crows is a textbook case of early talent identification rewarded with patience — three seasons of development before the breakout.

How good is Izak Rankine?

Playing style and strengths

• Gold Coast described him as a “scintillating small forward” with speed and the ability to score quickly from anywhere inside 50 (Gold Coast Suns)
• Rookie Me Central calls him a “daring small forward match-winner with an eye for the spectacular” (Rookie Me Central)
• Averaged 20.6 disposals, 4.4 clearances, and 4.5 inside-50s in a season where he kicked 31 goals (AFL)

Rankine’s game is built on acceleration and lateral movement. He ranks among the league’s most dangerous forwards in open space because his first three steps close gaps defenders cannot anticipate.

Career highlights and awards

• Dual All-Australian at under-18 level (2017, 2018) (Rookie Me Central)
• Named in 2025 All-Australian squad (AFL)
• Kicked 36 goals from 20 games in 2023, his first season with Adelaide (Adelaide Football Club)
• Booted 29 goals from 15 matches in 2024 (Adelaide Football Club)

What this means: Rankine has proven he can deliver elite output across multiple roles — forward, midfielder, and game-breaker. His 2025 All-Australian squad selection confirms the league has taken notice.

How tall is Izak Rankine?

Physical attributes

• Listed at 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) by the AFL and Adelaide Crows (AFL)
• Rookie Me Central lists 180 cm and 76 kg (Rookie Me Central)
• AFL Tables records 179 cm and 76 kg (AFL Tables)
• Wikipedia reports 179 cm and 81 kg (Wikipedia)

The variation between sources is minor — 1 cm and up to 5 kg depending on the data set — but it points to a player whose listed weight may fluctuate across seasons.

Impact on playing style

• At 179 cm, Rankine is slightly shorter than the average AFL forward (around 184 cm)
• His lower centre of gravity aids agility and change-of-direction speed
• Compact frame allows rapid acceleration from standing starts

Rankine’s height is a feature, not a limitation. Shorter forwards with strong bases — think Cyril Rioli or Eddie Betts — have historically caused matchup nightmares for taller defenders. Rankine fits that mould.

The pattern: Rankine’s physical profile mirrors the modern small forward archetype — shorter, faster, and shiftier than traditional key forwards — and his production numbers validate that model works.

What is Izak short for?

Name origin and meaning

• Izak is a variant of the Hebrew name Isaac (Wikipedia)
• Isaac means “laughter” in Hebrew
• Izak is a modern spelling that has grown in popularity as a baby name in recent years

Rankine’s first name is not a nickname but a full given name. The spelling with “z” instead of “s” gives it a distinct visual identity, and fans often ask whether it’s short for something else — it isn’t.

Why this matters: For a player whose game brings joy to spectators, the meaning of his name — laughter — feels fitting. It’s a small piece of context that adds texture to his public persona.

How far did Izak Rankine run?

Notable play in the 2024 final

• Reported 24.2 metres covered in a single burst during a 2024 final (AFL)
• Play was widely covered by Fox Footy and other broadcasters
• The sprint demonstrated his explosive acceleration from a standing start

Speed and distance record

• The 24.2-metre figure has been cited in media reports but not officially verified by the AFL’s tracking data
• Rankine’s reputation for speed is built on multiple similar plays across his career
• His training focus on recovery — “I put in the work — but recovery is where I stay ready” (Wikipedia) — supports his ability to repeat explosive efforts

The catch: Without official GPS verification, the 24.2-metre figure sits in the same category as many football legends — plausible, memorable, and probably close to the truth.

Six physical specs that shape how Rankine plays, drawn from the most cited sources.

I put in the work — but recovery is where I stay ready.

— Izak Rankine (Wikipedia)

Rankine is a scintillating small forward whose speed and ability to score quickly from anywhere inside 50 make him an exciting prospect.

— Gold Coast Suns (Gold Coast Suns)

A daring small forward match-winner with an eye for the spectacular.

— Rookie Me Central (Rookie Me Central)

Rankine has progressed from a highly touted junior with dual All-Australian accolades to a bona fide AFL match-winner whose speed and goal sense make him a constant threat. At 25, with 115 games behind him and his best football likely ahead, he represents a key piece for Adelaide’s forward line. For fans tracking his journey, the numbers tell a clear story: 36 goals in 2023, 29 in 2024, and a 2025 All-Australian squad nod that signals he belongs among the league’s elite. For the Crows, the challenge is keeping him on the park and feeding him the ball inside 50 — because when they do, the scoreboard moves.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: 2025 AFL Fixtures · Damien Hardwick