"Still work to do": Nicks reflects on Adelaide's culture issues

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says Izak Rankine is working his way through the aftermath of his suspension.

Rankine copped a four-match ban for using a homophobic slur against Collingwood last weekend which will likely see him miss the Crows’ entire finals series.

Nicks spoke on how Rankine has been doing this week while making it very clear that he is not the victim in this matter.

“Izak has got some great support around him. I think the fact the detail that’s gone through he acknowledged where he went wrong,” Nicks told reporters.

“He’s worked his way through that in the right manner. He understands that we’ve got to be better in that space.

“He’s not the victim in this and by no means do we want it to be looked at that way. He knows that. But it’s been quite a tough period for him.”

Nicks says that this situation shows the Crows have a long way to go with their own culture.

“It’s moments like this where you look at your culture and what it is you’re building, and you know that you’ve still got work to do,” he added.

“We aim for perfection but we understand it’s pretty tough to get there. But there’s a lot of things that where’re doing right.

“This just shows that we’ve still got work to do and we need to be better.

“We believe we’ve got a strong culture but we know we need to keep working on it.”

The Crows coach insists that education on such matters will be at the forefront for the club as it moves forward.

“No one is making excuses, no one is arguing that there shouldn’t have been a penalty,” he said further.

“We know we have to be better in that space and we’re educated around that. Staff, players, everyone within the football club is educated around why and what it is we’re trying to change in society.

“We didn’t get it right on this occasions, but we’ll continue to educate.”

Rankine broken his silence on Thursday after being hit with the ban.

Following a five-day investigation, the AFL eventually landed on the sanction, citing "compelling medical submissions" as the reason for reducing the initial five-match ban.

Rankine apologised for the use of the homophobic slur, and is set to undertake a pride in sport education program as part of his sanction.

“I regret using the word and I am very sorry for doing so, and that type of language has no place in football or the community,” Rankine said.

“It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player, and what happened does not reflect my values or those of the Club.

“I’m committed to educating myself and being better.”

The ban means Rankine would only be available to play in the Grand Final if the Crows lose in the first week of finals and take the long road to the big dance.

The AFL begun its investigation after Adelaide was alerted by Collingwood about the incident on Sunday, leading the club to sound the alarm.

The league’s integrity unit then sent a “please explain” to the Crows, who on Monday made their first submission to headquarters.

The AFL responded to Adelaide on Tuesday night, with a recommended suspension believed to be included.

“The language used was offensive, hurtful and highly inappropriate. Our players have a very clear understanding of what is acceptable on the football field. Importantly, in this instance it was called out by players and acknowledged by Izak himself as wrong — and that reflects the standards we expect and demand in our game,” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said.

“Izak has said he knew it was not acceptable. Adelaide have said they know it is not acceptable. In an AFL environment, this behaviour is not acceptable. Homophobia has no place in football. The suspension is significant, but stamping out vilification in our game is incredibly important. Everyone in football understands the rules, and there are consequences of breaching them.

“We recognise this is a challenging time for the players and clubs involved, and appropriate support has been offered. But our responsibility is also to every player, official and fan who deserves respect when they come to our game. In 2025, the players know this more than anyone.

“We know people in the LGBTQI+ community and allies hurt when an incident like this happens. One incident of this nature is too many, and the fact there have been multiple this year shows we still have more work to do and we are committed to that.”

Within a statement released by the Adelaide Crows, CEO Tim Silvers said the Club was extremely disappointed with Rankine’s behaviour and the word he used.

“Such language is unacceptable and at odds with the values of our organisation, and we are committed to being a Club that fosters a respectful and inclusive environment,” Silvers said.

“We are obviously frustrated and disappointed however, player welfare is always a priority and we will provide Izak with the appropriate support and education.”

The suspension will see the star Crow miss the beginning of the AFL finals, with scope to return for a Grand Final only if the Crows were to lose their Qualifying Final. It also means that the star Crow will likely be available for Round 1 in 2026.

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported that the Crows then pushed back on elements of the AFL’s submission before a final decision was finally handed down on Thursday.

Rankine is the sixth AFL-listed player to receive a ban for homophobic remarks in the past 16 months.