Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine has officially requested a trade to South Australia.
The Suns confirmed this week that Rankine wants to return home with Adelaide reportedly his preferred destination.
The 22-year-old’s trade request left the Suns “disappointed” as they seek to get the “best possible deal” in a trade for the forward.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane also expressed his disappointment with Rankine’s decision when speaking on Sportsday on Thursday night.
David King believes Rankine is being “poorly advised” by his management amid reports the Crows are prepared to make the 48-game goal sneak their highest paid player.
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“I still can’t get my head around this one,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“I think this is one of the most poorly advised players right now that I’ve seen for some time.
“A young man at 22 years of age, he’s only just getting going, only just hitting his straps, he’s played, what, 50 games of AFL footy – he’s not a $800,000 player.
“I understand you get what you pay for, and the Adelaide Crows have done a great job in securing their man and you have to pay overs, I get all that, but the pressure that will be on him right now worries me.
“Because he’s a small forward, he thrives on winning his own ball in the forward 50, he’s not a marquee mid, so he won’t be able to get the numbers that’ll satisfy the fans.
“I think he’ll be under pressure in a heartbeat at the Adelaide Crows.”
SEN Breakfast co-host Kane Cornes played devil’s advocate: “You’ve got a five-year offer of the figure that you’ve mentioned, significant ability to set yourself up.
“You get to come home to South Australia where he clearly would have family and support and knows the city well.
“It’s a hard one to say no to is what I’m saying.”
King replied: “If he signs a three-year deal at the Gold Coast for $650,000, if he’s the player that he’s worth – five years at $800,000 – the next contract at the Gold Coast will be significantly higher again.
“I just think there’s a stack of pressure coming on this kid.
“It’s not a go-home factor this one, he’s got family up on the Gold Coast at the moment as we know.
“This is not as simple as the go-home factor.”
Cornes fears the Crows could derail their rebuild by sacrificing their first pick in this year’s draft and potentially more in a trade for Rankine.
“He’s coming to this environment in a two-team town and Adelaide fans will be expecting success,” the Power great said.
“When you pay that sort of figure for a player and you give up what they’re going to give for him at the trade table as well, you’ve almost derailed your rebuilding plan that was to go to the draft for four or five years, you’re going to give up that pick 5 plus something else to get him.
“Absolutely there will be significant pressure.”