Izak Rankine’s long-awaited debut for the Gold Coast Suns was worth the wait.
Rankine was unleashed against Melbourne after being hampered by hamstring problems since he was selected by the Suns with pick No.3 in the 2018 draft.
The 20-year-old booted three goals in his first senior outing and dazzled with his craft and cleverness forward of centre.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd was one of many footy fans left buzzing with excitement after watching Rankine's electrifying performance.
"I can't remember a debut where you are that excited, where you are that glued to the screen,” Lloyd told Channel Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show.
“His first goal was freakish, this goal (the second goal) he meant – that’s not a fluke, and his last goal … the fast feet … he (Jetta) couldn’t stop him.
“To me, it was like (Peter) Daicos, he is a natural footballer.
"He has goal sense and sense of knowing where the ball is going to go that you can’t teach, it’s just instinctive.”
Despite Rankine’s spectacular debut, the Suns fell to the Demons by 17 points at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
"I can't remember a debut that had you as excited, and that glued to the screen."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 12, 2020
It looks like @matthewlloyd18 has a new favourite player, in Izak Rankine.#9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/y0n8jvui01