Cruel blow as electric Crow pings hammy late, Pies’ injury toll mounts

Izak Rankine and the Crows will sweat on scans after the midfielder suffered a suspected hamstring injury as he stormed towards goal in the dying stages against the Magpies

KUWARNA star Izak Rankine is facing a stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected hamstring strain in the dying seconds of the Crows’ four-point loss to Collingwood on Saturday.

The 24-year-old suffered the injury with 16 seconds left on the clock in the contentious moment where he was penalised for running too far after streaming down the wing and taking a bounce before kicking the ball inside 50.

Rankine produced another brilliant display to almost lead Kuwarna to victory against the reigning premiers, finishing with a career-high 30 disposals, 16 contested possessions, eight inside 50s, seven clearances – all in the second half – and 692m gained, before limping off after the final siren for assessment.

The South Australian will undergo a scan on Sunday but the Crows are bracing for Rankine to miss a few weeks after he suffered a similar injury against Melbourne in round 19 last year, which sidelined him for three games.

“We are fingers crossed but we think it might be a small hamstring strain,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks told reporters on Saturday night.

“I think 12 months ago v Melbourne he might have done the same thing at the same spot on the ground. We are hoping it’s not to that extent.”

Nicks wouldn’t be drawn to comment on the questionable umpiring decision that cost the Crows an opportunity to reset at a stoppage inside 50 in the dying seconds.

“He is extremely fast,” Nicks said.

“I won’t be making any comment around that (final moment). I thought he had a big impact.”