Jamilla Rankin on cusp of Young Matildas selection for Women’s U20 World Cup squad

A Brisbane Roar youngster has climbed up the ladder from a Northern Rivers farm girl to a future Matilda and is now on the cusp of a World Cup dream. See her journey.

When Jamilla Rankin moved from a quiet farm in the Northern Rivers hinterland to the hustle and bustle of Brisbane at the age of 15, she never thought she’d get the chance to represent her country.

Fast forward four years and Rankin has put herself in contention for the Young Matildas squad heading to the U20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica.

The qualification for the tournament which kicks off on August 10 is the first time Australia will be represented since 2006, when Rankin was just three years old.

“After the A-league Womens season finished my full focus was on the world cup team and going to Costa Rica,” Rankin said.

Jamilla Rankin has been a standout player for Brisbane Roar Picture: Mark Evans.

“It’s an exciting prospect for all of the young players, our women's team haven’t qualified in 16 years this is a massive thing for us.”

The Brisbane Roar left back has to pinch herself to remember this football dream started on a farm in a rural town called Eureka, 25 kilometres north of Lismore.

At an early age she developed a reputation as a teen soccer sensation playing for Eureka FC before being picked up by the Liverpool FC Academy in Lismore.

She was whisked away to Liverpool in the UK for a two week training session with their U15 sides in a moment that gave Rankin the confidence that she could make something of herself.

Jamilla Rankin (right) represented Rosebank Public School in a state athletics carnival as a relay runner Picture: Stuart Turner.

It truly set in when she was selected for her country to play in the 2019 AFC U16 Women’s Championships in Thailand just a few months later.

“I can’t even remember it,” she said.

“I got the email to say I was selected and thought ‘what even is this?’, I think this was the moment where I thought I could actually become something, this was the moment I knew I could do a lot with my football.

“I was so nervous, I was excited as well but it was the first time I played international football, I was so excited to represent my country”.

Jamilla went from a starstruck international tourist to a mainstay at fullback, playing two group matches and 90 minutes in Australia's 3-0 semi-final loss to North Korea.

Her performances for her country impressed Brisbane Roar women’s coach Jake Goodship who rewarded Rankin with her first team debut in a 3-1 loss to Melbourne City in March 2020.

Covid-19 interrupted her breakout season but when football resumed Rankin turned up the heat and established herself as a deadset gun for the future.

Jamilla Rankin spent two weeks with Liverpool FC as a 14 year old.

Rankin played the majority of the 2020/21 season scoring a goal and grabbing three assists as well as striking up a partnership with Matildas centre-back Clare Polkinghorne.

She played the fourth-highest number of minutes as a seventeen year-old and had incredible attacking instinct and confidence, with some comparing her to current Matildas left-back Steph Catley.

She admits she was surprised to play as much as she did but she excelled to the point where she was included in a Matildas talent ID camp in November 2020.

“I went into the season not expecting to play and my coach was being honest saying ‘you’re still young I can’t guarantee you’ll start’ and he said you have to earn your spot,” she said. -

“My performances kept improving and Clare Polkinghorne and Kim Carroll were my centre back partners and I wouldn’t have played as well without them by my side, they were my mentors throughout that whole season”.

The next few months will be testing for Rankin who will wait to see if the phone rings to whisk her away to her first ever World Cup experience.

No matter what the next few months or even her career holds, she will always remember the wise words of her parents.

“Make sure you love what you’re doing, don’t forget to enjoy it “.