IZAK Rankine thought it was all going to happen again. He entered this year, his draft season, having already achieved plenty: made his debut at senior SANFL level, played for South Australia's under-18 side and been named an All Australian. The next task was keeping that going.

Rankine is one of the best players in this year's NAB AFL Draft and certainly the most exciting. The 18-year-old half-forward is deadly by foot around goal, has electric pace and makes things happen. But his start to this season, on the back of his thrilling 2017 campaign, wasn't how he hoped.

He was suspended for five games – reduced to three with an early plea – for two incidents in the same game while playing for West Adelaide, and didn't come back in the type of form expected, of him and by him. Rankine decided to change things.

"At the start of the year I wasn't eating properly and probably wasn't as organised as I should've been. The first half of the year I could gotten on top of the little things a bit better, like going to training on time and getting there early and doing the one-percenters," he told AFL.com.au.

"I went away from that after a good year last year, coming into this year thinking those things don't matter any more, but they really do. So the second half of the year I made sure I was on top of that and I knew my form had to be really good. I noticed my form was being affected by me not doing those sort of things."

Specifically, those sorts of things included watching his diet: cutting out the chocolate at night and easy trips for fast food, eating when he needed to and not snacking, and drinking plenty of water throughout the week in the lead-up to a game.

He started to reap the benefits of that during this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Rankine kicked five goals in a blistering display against Vic Metro at Marvel Stadium, helping his side to the title in what was essentially the carnival's Grand Final, and was named the only back-to-back All Australian in the crop.

"I knew coming into that game I had to be on top of everything because I know the few games before that I didn’t prepare myself too well. But with the last games in Melbourne I had to do the right things," he said.

"I live for those big games and I have to make sure I prepare like that for every game like it's a Grand Final. I have to prepare the same in every single game, and this whole year has taught me a lot."

It's taught recruiters plenty about Rankine, too, although they are always wondering more. He finds them asking about his off-field life as much as his game, and how he would fare if he was drafted outside of South Australia.

The indigenous teenager, who has grown close to Adelaide star Eddie Betts after training with the Crows through his NAB AFL Academy placement, and who idolised Alwyn and Aaron Davey as a kid, shapes as a top-five selection next month.

Izak Rankine is a dual All Australian at U18 level. Picture: AFL Photos



Adelaide or Port Adelaide could trade to move up the draft board to be able to secure a local talent like Rankine, Jack Lukosius or Connor Rozee, but Rankine says he isn't fazed by moving.

"I don't think it will really matter to me, and it wouldn't affect me too much. I'm happy to move away and I'm happy to take the opportunity to play for an AFL team. I'm happy to move away and play for a club or stay here and play," he said.

Clubs have also asked Rankine where he wants to get to as a player. He makes things look easy on the field – he's so quick that he has competed in and won sprinting gifts in Adelaide – and he plays like he knows he is good enough to be at AFL level. But he isn't just playing for fun.

"Growing up I've always looked up to the greatest and always wanted to be one of the best ever," he said.

"I think if I go out there and give it a red-hot crack and my 100 per cent every single day and end up being an all-time great then that would be good. I think that is achievable but it's achievable for anyone – if you give 100 per cent then you can do whatever. I'm looking forward to the future and what it holds for me wherever it is."

Rankine and Lukosius are not just teammates but also schoolmates, having attended Henley High School together since year eight. This year, they played in a premiership for the school. This week, they will test at the NAB AFL Draft Combine at Marvel Stadium, starting on Tuesday.

It's the last part of a season that may not have started the way Rankine wanted, but he ended it pleased with his overall output. Having achieved so much well before this year, Rankine's wait before joining a club feels a little longer than most.

Before draft night on November 22, Rankine will fill in his time finishing school, playing some casual basketball and strumming his guitar, a hobby that has seen him sing and post his songs on social media. But he's ready for the next step.

"It's almost there, but I'm kind of sick of waiting for it, I just want it to happen. You have to be patient and it will happen eventually," he said.

"You see the older players say it goes quick and time flies when you're in there, so I'm just waiting to be in there and really want to be on a list."