Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine has publicly addressed the homophobic slur he directed at an opponent, acknowledging the harm caused by his words. Rankine spoke to the media at Adelaide Airport, nearly two weeks after receiving a four-match suspension from the AFL for the incident.

“I want to start by saying how deeply sorry I am for what I said. There was no excuse. It was wrong and I take full responsibility,” Rankine stated. He expressed disappointment in himself and recognized the impact of his actions. “I know I've let a lot of people down. I want to apologize to anyone I've hurt, offended. I understand that word is offensive, it's harmful, it's hurtful and it has no place in our game or society.”

The 25-year-old returned to Australia after a club-sanctioned trip to Italy, which followed the AFL's investigation into his conduct. Rankine's comments came shortly after he landed back in Australia, marking his first media appearance since the suspension.

In the lead-up to his arrival, Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph provided insights on what to expect from Rankine. He noted that Rankine would likely issue a brief statement, possibly an apology, but would not take questions regarding the slur at that time.

The Adelaide Crows are currently preparing for their upcoming match against Collingwood, and there is uncertainty about Rankine's participation. The club is considering the opinions of senior players on whether his presence would affect team performance.

Rankine's suspension was reduced from five weeks to four, allowing him the possibility to play in the grand final if the Crows advance. The team is focused on maintaining a distraction-free environment as they approach the finals, which will be their first since the 2017 Grand Final loss to Richmond.