I love the logical extension of the ‘toughen up’, ‘sticks and stones’ and ‘it’s just name calling’ sentiments I’ve seen around this.

I can tell my friend that works in counselling women that are recovering from emotional and verbal abuse (note, no physical violence) from their partners to just tell those women they’re being too soft and she just needs to remind them of the age old wisdom of a literal poem for children that:

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Problem solved 🤣😂🤣😂

I seem to recollect Zorko having a shot at Petty over something, and nothing happened to him....go figure

37 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

I seem to recollect Zorko having a shot at Petty over something, and nothing happened to him....go figure

It was that disgusting that it reduced Petty to tears and had his team mates seeing blood.

25 minutes ago, Redleg said:

It was that disgusting that it reduced Petty to tears and had his team mates seeing blood.

yep and petty is now pilloried as a crybaby by oppo supporter

of course, zorko is also seen as a complete toerag by bears and oppo supporters...

Four match ban... just announced

The AFL arrived at the decision based on evidence from Adelaide, compelling medical submissions and its own integrity unit investigation.

The AFL had initially proposed a five-match ban to Adelaide, giving Rankine and the Crows the opportunity to present a case for a reduced penalty. The Crows responded on Wednesday.

The four-match ban indicates that the Crows’ efforts to mitigate the punishment were successful.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/rankine-given-four-match-ban-for-on-field-homophobic-slur-20250821-p5mond.html

Edited August 21, 2025Aug 21 by Diamond_Jim

I reckon he'd be secretly hoping his team loses week 1 so he can have a crack at the GF.

got the snoop discount

Man, Rankine would’ve been fun to watch in finals.

Nibbler for Norm Smith.

Sorry but this is just all wrong for the reasons many have described here (NOT because they’re just words - I’m not saying that)

14 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

Sorry but this is just all wrong for the reasons many have described here (NOT because they’re just words - I’m not saying that)

At least it's consistent with previous incidents of the same nature..

I think when you have an organisation like the AFL trying to act as the moral arbitrator for society we have a problem.

Rankine made a mistake, nothing more.

Edited August 21, 2025Aug 21 by Jibroni

17 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

I think when you have an organisation like the AFL trying to act as the moral arbitrator for society we have a problem.

Rankine made a mistake, nothing more.

I think in 2025 everyone should know better than to use such derogatory language. The AFL has consistently given big punishments for this type of behaviour and Rankine should have known better. There are plenty of things you can say to your opponent, that don't include vilifying language around sexual orientation, race or religion.

Would you feel the same if a player racially vilified one of our players? 'Just a mistake'?

22 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

I think when you have an organisation like the AFL trying to act as the moral arbitrator for society we have a problem.

Rankine made a mistake, nothing more.

If someone had abused Rankine on basis of his race he'd scream about it. Same issue just different angle.

Bad luck. Clumsy by afl as expected allowing crows to mount a case.

Will Powell made the exact same slur. Immediately regretted it and apologised to the player. Apologised after the game. And called the following day to apologise again and also self reported. He also has brothers in the gay community so you know he would be absolutely remorseful

He got 5 weeks.

Rankine getting 4 weeks a month later is unfathomable. Why do we even bother with this sport really.

Edited August 21, 2025Aug 21 by Jjrogan

This bit on the AFL site had me

"Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training," the League said in a statement.

What medical reasons would there be for using that language?

9 minutes ago, Age said:

This bit on the AFL site had me

"Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training," the League said in a statement.

What medical reasons would there be for using that language?

ptsd from houston abusing him about knocking him unconscious in the showdown last season

1 hour ago, Superunknown said:

Sorry but this is just all wrong for the reasons many have described here (NOT because they’re just words - I’m not saying that)

Exactly that... Neanderthal head can finish a players career nothing to see here but utter a few words BANG 4 weeks! Seriously??

1 hour ago, Jibroni said:

I think when you have an organisation like the AFL trying to act as the moral arbitrator for society we have a problem.

Rankine made a mistake, nothing more.

I believe the Collingwood grub was so mortified he was laughing ( hope he's ok 🙄 )

1 hour ago, Jibroni said:

I think when you have an organisation like the AFL trying to act as the moral arbitrator for society we have a problem.

Rankine made a mistake, nothing more.

It is very hard to decide if using slurs is right or wrong. I personally was happy when the AFL was appointed to sort out this very very very very very difficult moral question.

He should have just knocked Houston out, thats only 3 weeks

...0 if you're "attempting to smother"

Edited August 21, 2025Aug 21 by biggestred

26 minutes ago, Age said:

"Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training," the League said in a statement.

Judge: "The defendant has been found guilty of murdering his parents. Do you have anything to say before I pass sentence?"

Defence Lawyer: "I ask the court to show leniency on the compassionate grounds that my client is now an orphan."

56 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

Will Powell made the exact same slur. Immediately regretted it and apologised to the player. Apologised after the game. And called the following day to apologise again and also self reported. He also has brothers in the gay community so you know he would be absolutely remorseful

He got 5 weeks.

Rankine getting 4 weeks a month later is unfathomable. Why do we even bother with this sport really.

Missing all the finals plus a home and away game, is worse than missing 5 home and away games to any footballer.

They are different levels of penalty.

I can’t see why people don’t understand that players value finals games far, far, far more than home and away games.

41 minutes ago, Age said:

This bit on the AFL site had me

"Following an investigation and submissions from Adelaide and Rankine including compelling medical submissions, Rankine has received a four-match sanction and has been ordered to undertake further Pride In Sport training," the League said in a statement.

What medical reasons would there be for using that language?

None, but the medical reasons probably are about his current mental health state. We don’t know how this is affecting him. That’s what it’s probably about.

This is ham-fisted by the AFL. Yes, he shouldn’t have said it, but making the penalty so severe carries the risk of polarising football fans; detrimental to a more accepting and inclusive mindset.

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

I think in 2025 everyone should know better than to use such derogatory language. The AFL has consistently given big punishments for this type of behaviour and Rankine should have known better. There are plenty of things you can say to your opponent, that don't include vilifying language around sexual orientation, race or religion.

Would you feel the same if a player racially vilified one of our players? 'Just a mistake'?

The problem what maybe "derogatory" for one person is not for another, particularly in this instance where the player receiving the remark was not offended. If the player was a homosexual footballer naturally this would be a different discussion.

I thought a one match ban for a first offence would be fair (with a probation/education added) and any further offence incurring a harsher penalty (ie: 5 weeks).

And yes I would feel the same if a MFC player was involved.