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Izak Rankine in brutal new fallout as Port make decision on appealling Dan Houston ban

Rankine was concussed and picked up a shoulder injury after a bump from Houston.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

Port Adelaide have revealed they'll appeal Dan Houston's five-match ban for his ugly hit that knocked out Izak Rankine. Houston was slapped with the massive suspension at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night, but Port will now take the case to the appeals board. The appeals board can overturn a tribunal decision if they find there was an error of law, the decision was unreasonable, the classification of the offence was excessive or the sanction was excessive.

Rankine's season is over after he suffered both a concussion and shoulder injury as a result of a nasty bump. The Crows player was unaware of Houston's presence as he only had eyes for the ball. Rankine was on the ground for several minutes before being taken off the ground on a medical cart and was ruled out of the game.

Pictured Izak Rankine and right Dan Houston
Izak Rankine was concussed and picked up a shoulder injury from an ugly bump by Dan Houston. Image: Getty

The Match Review Officer graded the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, sending Houston straight to the tribunal. On Tuesday, Lisa Hannon KC, representing the AFL, argued Houston made contact with the top of Rankine's shoulder and neck, which resulted in both a concussion to the star forward as well as an injury to his shoulder's AC joint, according to the club's medical records.

Scans will reveal how bad the AC joint sprain is but a high-grade sprain would usually see the player miss between two and six weeks. On Tuesday, a remorseful Houston did not challenge the offence's classification as rough conduct but sought to appeal the severity of the penalty. "I regret my decision to bump Izak, and I'm very sorry for the injury my decision caused," he told the tribunal.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Izak Rankine of the Crows is knocked out by a late hit from Dan Houston of the Power during the round 23 AFL match between Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval, on August 17, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Dan Houston was given a five game ban for his hit on Izak Rankine. Image: Getty

"I never meant to hurt Izak, let alone concuss him. I don't know why I didn't tackle. In the past, this has been my first instinct. I don't know why I decided to bump because I can't remember making that decision because it all happened so quickly." Port's lawyer Ben Krupka argued a three-game suspension would be more appropriate given his clean record and remorse.

But the tribunal took a very dim view of the incident. Despite never being suspended across 168 AFL games and 18 SANFL games, the AFL tribunal upheld Houston's rough-conduct charge, meaning the All-Australian defender will miss the rest of the season even if Port make it to the grand final. He is also unlikely to return to Alberton next year, as he is reportedly considering leaving the Power at season's end to return to his native Victoria. But the ruling has divided the AFL world with some believing he is hard done by, while others feel a lengthy ban simply had to be handed down.

In a statement after the hearing, Port Adelaide said it would consider its position overnight before deciding on whether to appeal the decision. And former Carlton and Brisbane player Brendan Fevola believes if they do he will get off entirely as he believes the bump was completely legal and within the rules of the game.

"There’s been an outcry of all these experts saying, ‘Throw the book at him!’ Everyone’s saying 4-6 weeks. Port Adelaide are second on the ladder and they’ve only got a maximum of three games left if they win all their games to a Grand Final. So, if he gets suspended for this, he may miss a Grand Final," Fevola said on Fox FM's Fifi, Fev & Nick Show on Monday.

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“I don’t think he should get anything. Now the reason I say this: we're big on concussions and head (injuries) but, you know what, AFL footballers know that you may get concussed in a contact sport that has been played for over 150 years. You go out there and you know you’re going to get hit, somewhere, sometime, in one of the games you’re going to play.

"He hit him fair and square. In all our rules of the game, if you elect to bump and you hit someone’s head - you’re done, you’re suspended, fair enough. But in the rule book, it doesn't say you can't hip and shoulder. If you hip and shoulder a player, hit him fair and square, don't touch his head, and his head hits the ground… well, that's just s***, that’s unlucky. He (Rankine) got knocked out when he hit the ground."

with AAP