Matt Rankine plays starring role in Mallee Eagles rise in Central Murray league

The brother of a superstar Adelaide Crow is playing a vital role in one country club’s resurgence as it aims to end a 29-year premiership drought.

Matt Rankine stretches for the ball for the Mallee Eagles earlier this season. Picture: Erin Scaresbrook.

Led by the brother of AFL star Izak Rankine the Mallee Eagles are daring to dream their 29-year senior premiership drought can end this year.

The Eagles have won three straight games to start the season in the Central Murray league with Matt Rankine, the older brother of Izak, one of the key players.

Rankine joined the club in the off-season after playing more than 100 games in the SANFL.

He’s made an immediate impact, being named as best on ground in the league for round three after his 44 disposals, seven clearances and one goal helped the Eagles to beat Koondrook Barham by 114 points last Saturday.

Eagles coach Harry Allen said Matt’s performances were reminiscent of what Izak has done on the field for Adelaide and Gold Coast.

Mallee Eagles player Matt Rankine tries to evade a tackle. Picture: Erin Scaresbrook

“The easy way to describe him for people that haven’t seen him is to watch Izak as it is very similar to how he plays,” Allen said.

“He’s so electric, he’s got five or six gears in terms of speed and he can do it without raising a sweat.

“You can play him forward or midfield which is what he’s doing at the moment.

“He’s been awesome and having him on board has allowed other guys to change positions and trial things.”

Allen said Rankine’s recruitment was one of the areas of focus in the off-season.

Last season the Eagles enjoyed one of their most competitive in years, losing a preliminary final by 18 points to eventual premiers Nyah-Nyah West.

During that contest the coach decided his team needed to focus on one particular aspect to take their game to a higher level in 2025.

“We really wanted to get our outside game together,” Allen said.

“We are a really good contested side and we haven’t shied away from that this year at all but we needed to adapt to our outside game.

“We fell short in a few of those areas (in 2024).

The next two weeks will provide big tests as the Eagles face fellow unbeaten side Woorinen before taking on Cohuna, led by former Golden Square premiership player Jack Geary.

Two Mallee Eagles players celebrate a goal against Swan Hill earlier this season. Picture: Erin Scaresbrook

Allen said he was confident the team could match the two premiership contenders.

“I probably haven’t been as excited this year (about success) in my senior footy than I have been before,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge but we’re fully confident in the way we are playing and the system will hold up.”

One person who is pleased for the team’s success is current board member and former president Darren Scott.

Scott was president through the hard times in the early 2000s when drought almost ended the football club and the seniors struggled to win a game.

It would have ended a team which is currently the lifeblood of the small town of Lalbert, near Swan Hill, which has a population of just under 200 people.

Scott said the club was vital as a place where the community could come together during the week.

“The pub (in Lalbert) has shut down, so the club is more than a club, it’s the community centre,” he said.

“It’s a hub.

“We’ll serve 130 meals on a Thursday night and we do community announcements.

“It’s really important for us to stay there as long as we can to keep the community strong.

“Things are going along beautifully right now.”

Originally published as Matt Rankine plays starring role in Mallee Eagles rise in Central Murray league