Adelaide count on star recruit Izak Rankine to thrive underneath the emotional strain of taking part in in opposition to his former aspect Gold Coast for the primary time.
Rankine, recent from his game-turning exploits in Adelaide’s 17-point win in opposition to the Brisbane Lions, meets his ex-club in Darwin on Saturday evening.
The dynamic ahead performed 48 video games for Gold Coast in three years earlier than returning to his house metropolis of Adelaide on the finish of final season.
“It might have a bit of a different challenge for Izak, there’s some emotion around it for him,” Crows assistant coach Nathan van Berlo stated on Monday.
“But he will prepare as he does every week and he will know his opposition really well and who he’s coming up against, who’s going to play on.
“So that shall be in his favour.
“But he’s a pro, the way he goes about his footy, and he’s in good form so he’ll be looking forward to the contest for sure.”
Crows hierarchy will decide Rankine’s mind for insights into the Suns, who upset the Western Bulldogs by seven factors in Darwin final Saturday evening.
“He has given us some insight when he first got the club around what his former club has done and what they do well and what their game plan is,” van Berlo stated.
“And like we do with any player when they come in, Jordan Dawson (from Sydney) was no different, we pick their brains as coaches when we have a fresh face in to see what we can learn from other environments.”
Rankine will sort out his former crew in red-hot type after kicking two objectives, together with a superb left-footed snap from close to a boundary line, and having 13 rating involvements within the Crows’ win over the Lions.
“It was it’s pretty special effort from Izak, the way he went about it and the way that he impacted the game,” van Berlo stated.
“We really value what he gives us ahead of the ball – give him half a sniff and he can impact the game.
“So developing with 13 rating involvements and to have the impression that he did was enormous for us.
“I also love the unselfish aspect of his game where he gave off a number of shots as well, his chases, tackles, pressure … already he’s a critical member of our group.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
