Izak Rankine & Homophobic Slurs In The AFL
First up, I would like to say that I support the AFL stance against homophobic slurs, as I do its stance against racist insults on the field. Izak Rankine and homophobic slurs in the AFL. The Adelaide Crows AFL footballer is in the crosshairs right now over an alleged homophobic insult made against a Collingwood player on Saturday night last. It is important that these things are called out in light of the intense scrutiny AFL players are under here in Australia. These things are a given in the current 21C climate, as we progress toward a fairer and better society for all. It is interesting, however, to dig a little deeper into why we find ourselves in this situation.
Why Isak Why Were You Compelled To Insult Homophobically?
Why would a young man, earning lots of money playing the game he loves, feel compelled to hurl a nasty insult questioning the sexual preferences of an opposing player? Why is this so? Could it be that the game allows a smorgasbord of physical and psychological tirades to be directed at small forwards, in particular. These special players are highly talented and clever in crafting goals out of unlikely circumstances on the field. Close checking is called for to prevent these wildcards from running amok during games. The opposing player in question was Isaac Quaynor from the Magpies. Izak Rankine and homophobic slurs in the AFL.
“ “It was a tense night; it was physically played in close quarters, and Rankine was involved in various stages in heated battles with Isaac Quaynor, which then spilled to other opponents,” Gerard Whateley said on AFL 360.”
AFL Psychological Warfare Insulting Fans Everywhere
AFL players perform ‘drive by’ bumps outside of the play upon unsuspecting opponents to rattle them. In addition, they attempt to ‘ragdoll’ them when they lie prostrate on the ground after a contest. All these illegal hits are unofficially condoned by umpires like little white lies, in the main. This is all part of the psychological warfare suite of tricks to unsettle players and teams. It is not enough for the best players to play each other in AFL, no, we have to have the black hat tactics to decide victory in games. Whilst this is in no way an excuse for Izak Rankine and what he said, it is context for his transgression. Do we really need all this extraneous BS going on in games. The coaching fraternity must be held accountable for this. Head coaches on million dollar plus salaries are polluting the game we love with crap like this. Izak Rankine and homophobic slurs in the AFL.
Izak Rankine Will Pay The Price
To set the scene, we have a highly paid player being close checked by an opponent in the match of the round in front of a big crowd of 50, 000 plus spectators at Adelaide Oval. Throughout the game illegal hits and bumps are executed upon Izak Rankine. Not to mention the array of nasty things said to him by a raft of Collingwood players. The game is close, so very tight, and the pressure builds on Rankine to deliver match winning goals. The viciousness is spitting chips around Rankine and he gives as good as he gets. Adelaide wins the battle but do they lose the war by losing Izak Rankine for the entire finals series? Izak Rankine and homophobic slurs in the AFL.
Australia Is A Racist & Homophobic Nation
Culturally in Australia, we are a racist and homophobic community in many parts of the country. This is no guess, as I have talked to plenty of folk who carry on in such ways, especially in regional Australia. The political correctness is paper thin in lots of ways and mores the pity about this fact. Children and young boys in particular say nasty stuff like this in the playground. Who knows, maybe Izak’s father and friends use these slurs – I don’t know. I do know that we revert back to childish behaviour when we are under extreme pressure. That we may well come out with a homophobic or racist insult if that was the lingua franca of our childhood. These are not excuses but provide context for why this stuff keeps happening. You cannot expect someone to behave with impeccable political correctness whilst being tortured with physical and psychological warfare. My solution is to ban this extraneous crap from AFL footy. Outlaw it all now! Stop turning a blind eye to it because you think it spices up the ratings. It is violence that we do not condone anywhere else in life.
Sticks & Stones Folks
The old sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me has been turned on its head. So, that we severely punish the language but tacitly allow the physical violence masked as machismo inspired dominance over victims. It is sadism, in reality. Brutish behaviour marring the greatest game on earth. Stop setting people up to fail by entertaining completely contradictory rules and norms. You want modern AFL players to compete like cavemen but condemn them when they speak like cavemen. It is batshit crazy stuff. Izak Rankine and homophobic slurs in the AFL.
“The SCG is a disgrace in terms of the playing surface and dangerous for AFL players plying their trade on it. Sydney Swans home ground not up to AFL standard. Indeed, it mirrors the disappointing season the Swans are currently having in 2025. “
“Last year, Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games, and Gold Coast’s Wil Powell was later suspended for five matches for making homophobic comments to opponents.
In July, the AFL banned West Coast’s Jack Graham for four games after he admitted to a homophobic slur against a GWS opponent.
St Kilda youngster Lance Collard last year received a six-game ban for directing homophobic slurs towards VFL opponents.
This July, Sydney draftee Riak Andrew was given a five-game suspension for a “highly offensive” slur in a VFL match.”
Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of The Stoic Golfer; Money Matters and America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump.
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