West Coast is prepared to select Izak Rankine if he falls through to the pre-season draft, according to SEN SA host Michelangelo Rucci.
The out-of-contract Gold Coast forward is attracting interest from Adelaide, who are reportedly prepared to make the 22-year-old their highest paid player on a long-term contract.
Should Rankine request a trade to Adelaide and a deal between the Crows and Suns couldn’t be agreed, Rucci says the Eagles are waiting in the wings and ready to swoop.
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“The trade has to be done, Gold Coast are going to demand a fair bit,” Rucci told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“Who’s going to have the number one pick in the pre-season draft? North Melbourne, but you don’t expect them to go down that path. Number two is West Coast.
“I’m hearing West Coast are quite prepared to call Rankine’s name in the pre-season draft if they have to.
“They (Crows) have to do the deal.”
The Suns are reportedly prepared to offer Rankine $650,000 a season to stay at the club.
Rankine is nursing a shoulder injury and is in doubt to play in Gold Coast’s Round 23 match against North Melbourne.
The Suns livewire has kicked 57 goals in 48 games since being taken with pick three in the 2018 National Draft.