Adelaide star Izak Rankine will miss a guaranteed spiteful rematch against Collingwood, with the AFL sending the Crows to the MCG to face the Magpies for their 2026 opener.

Rankine was suspended for four games after admitting to using a homophobic slur against a Collingwood opponent during Adelaide's thrilling round-23 win this year.

The 25-year-old had to sit out the Crows' last home and away game against North Melbourne.

Adelaide became the first minor premiers to exit the finals in straight sets since 1983 after losing to Collingwood and Hawthorn, meaning Rankine still has one game left of his suspension to serve.

Collingwood secured redemption for their late-season defeat at the Adelaide Oval, upsetting the Crows in the qualifying final at the same venue.

The Adelaide crowd came under fire during that match for the sustained booing of Isaac Quaynor whenever the Collingwood defender touched the ball.

"Round one is very important for us to get off to a really strong start," AFL scheduling and strategy boss Josh Bowler said, when asked about staging the game without Rankine.

"I think fans will be pretty excited to see that game, regardless of who's playing in it."

While the March 14 match will be Adelaide's first of the season, Collingwood will be involved in the first Opening Round game to be played in Victoria six days earlier.

After four matches in NSW and Queensland, the Magpies will face St Kilda at the MCG on March 8 to end the first weekend of the season.

Australian Associated Press