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El Doederino
Norm Smith Medallist
- Apr 22, 2018
- 5,896
- 12,881
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
I can’t believe they graded the hit careless instead of deliberate when you take the above into consideration. It was 100% deliberate. Houston knew what he was doing.They definitely targeted Rankine. There was a tackle in the 1st quarter where one pinned him and two others came in late to make him feel it. It was disappointing that the crows players nearby (Crouch, ROB, Rachele & Berry) didn’t put the flag in the ground at that point. Commentators were saying Houston has a good record/a good guy etc. That type of hit is more likely to happen when a player is targeted, as Rankine was. It is the type of thing Port have always done.
It was disgraceful umpiring that the end result of that, was a Port free kick.
Despite an interrupted year with injury, reports etc. It has been somewhat of a breakout year for Rankine, becoming a midfielder and still kicking goals. We’ll need to look after him as he becomes the target for every side.