Izak Rankine "is not the victim" in the incident which will see him miss four games and potentially a grand final, Crows AFL coach Matthew Nicks says.

The AFL issued Rankine a four game suspension for his use of a 'highly offensive homophobic slur' towards a Collingwood player in round 23, after finding the star player guilty of breaching league conduct rules this week.

Speaking on Friday, Nicks told reporters "no one's making excuses" and "no one is arguing that there shouldn't have been a penalty" as a result of the slur, and that the club have looked to offer their support to everyone affected by the incident, including Rankine.

After the ban was announced by the AFL on Thursday, Adelaide chief executive Tim Silvers said it's been a difficult few days for Rankine, who is likely to spend some time out of Adelaide for his wellbeing.

Alongside those concerns, Silvers similarly stated Rankine's "words and his behaviour were unacceptable".

"Four weeks is what they (AFL) deem as appropriate. We accept that we won't be appealing. We'll move on," Silvers said.

"He's (Rankine) doing it pretty tough, like he put himself into this position, and he's deeply remorseful and regrets what he said, but he's doing it pretty tough.

"He basically hasn't left his house for the last few days. We're going to support him. We're going to care for him."

Silvers gave an apology on behalf of the club to supporters, including LGBTQIA+ fans.

On Thursday, Crows LGBTQIA+ supporter group Rainbow Crows issued their own statement.

"We are deeply concerned and disappointed that not only has another homophobic slur been used by another AFL player, but that it has happened in our club. When a player directs a homophobic slur, it is less likely to offend the player it is aimed at, but the LGBTQIA+ community," the group said.

Rainbow Crows said despite a clear position from the AFL homphobic slurs are completely unacceptable.

"This demonstrates that there is still work to be done in this area" and "it is obviously still a commonly used term including in male team sports," they said.

"There is no excuse for using slurs like these that insult or disrespect a whole group of people just for being who they are.

"When slurs like this are used, it gives power to others to mimic and assume that if the celebrity or sports star they idolise and look up to can use them, then it's ok for them to use them too."

Rainbow Crows said they are hopeful Rankine learns from the incident.

In addition to missing four games, Rankine is also required to engage with Pride in Sport training.

The 25-year-old will be unavailable for the grand final should the ladder-leading Crows reach the match next month unless they drop a home qualifying final in the first week of September and progress to the final match of the season via the longer route.

Via a club statement on Thursday, Rankine said: "I regret using the word and I am very sorry for doing so, and that type of language has no place in football or the community."

"It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player, and what happened does not reflect my values or those of the Club," he said.

"I'm committed to educating myself and being better."

Speaking to Triple M on Friday morning, Silvers said Rankine is "embarrassed, he's remorseful, he's regretful, he hasn't actually been back to the club since it happened".

In their statement on Thursday the AFL said Adelaide included "compelling medical submissions" in their submissions into the related integrity unit investigations.

"He is not the victim in this. And by no means do we want that to be looked at that way. And he knows that, but it's been quite a tough period for him," Crows men's coach Matthew Nicks said on Friday afternoon.

"It's moments like this where you look at your culture and what it is you're building, and you know that you've still got work to do.

"We know we have to be better in that space," Nicks later added, "and we are educated around that - staff, players, everyone within the football club is educated around why, what it is we're trying to change in society. We didn't get it right on this occasion, we'll continue to educate."

Nicks said despite the focus on Rankine this week, the men's side has prepared well for their final game of the home and away season against North Melbourne this weekend.