Rankine ranked No.1 in AFL after shift to midfield
Champion Data ranks Izak Rankine the competition's top player since round 18, averaging 150 points per game.
Izak Rankine only moved to a permanent midfield role in round nine this year, having been primarily a forward. The shift did not pay off immediately.
Rankine's turning point came in round 17 against West Coast. Two weeks later, against Sydney at the SCG, his complete midfielder game on display, Rankine made a crucial defensive tackle on Isaac Heeney in the last quarter that helped shut down Sydney's late surge.
Since then, he has risen from good to elite. He now leads the entire competition in Champion Data rankings, with 150 points per game.
The next best players are Errol Gulden on 129 and Max Gawn on 123. His season shows that a natural forward, when shifted to midfield, can become a dominant all-round midfielder, not just a goal kicker.
- 150 per game
- Rankine's ranking points
- Errol Gulden at 129
- Second-ranked player
- Max Gawn at 123
- Third-ranked player
- Round 19
- Round of turning point
Why it mattersRankine's rise shows Adelaide may have finally unlocked a generational midfielder, which changes the Crows' finals chances.
AustraliaOne of the AFL's most exciting young players has emerged as the competition's best, reshaping Adelaide's finals prospects.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 28 min ago
