Georgie Rankin follows in the footsteps of great-great grandfather to play for Geelong

THIS time last year Georgie Rankin was trying to create a team in a sport she had never played. Now the Surfers Paradise Demons product has followed in the footsteps of great-great grandfather Teddy Rankin by playing at the top level for the Geelong Cats.

THIS time last year Georgie Rankin was trying to create a team in a sport she had never played.

Now the Surfers Paradise Demons product has followed in the footsteps of great-great grandfather Teddy Rankin by playing at the top level for the Geelong Cats.

“It gives me tingles thinking about it,” Rankin said while recounting her AFLW debut for the Cats that included a 3.6 (26) to 2.11 (23) win over Collingwood last Saturday at GMHBA Stadium.

“It’s a massive honour and I’m really humbled by it.

“To know I get to carry on the legacy of the Rankin family and not only that, but to do it as a female.

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“Teddy would have never imagined it would be a female carrying on the family tradition. “When I looked at my family I can see the pride in their eyes.

“I saw a photo taken from the game where there are all these young girls screaming. That is so inspiring that they now have a pathway to play and I get to be at the beginning of it.

Rankin’s timely debut followed Geelong’s decision to induct Teddy Rankin as a Club Legend in 2018.

Georgie Rankin of the Cats is tackled by Sarah Dargan of the Magpies during the 2019 NAB AFLW Round 01 match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at GMHBA Stadium. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media.

Rankin played 268 games for the Cats between 1891 and 1910 and was part of its inaugural VFL team in 1897.

Three of his sons including Cliff, Doug and Bert, also played for Geelong while their other brother Reg, Rankin’s grandfather, missed out on the opportunity after suffering a serious knee injury.

Cliff was also captain-coach when Geelong won its first premiership in 1925 and is credited with giving Geelong, previously known as the Pivotonians, the nickname ‘the Cats’.

Geelong AFLW player Georgie Rankin (middle in guernsey) with her family. Back Row = Ted Bates (Poppy), Madeleine Bates (Grandie), Paddy Rankin (Brother), Sandi Webber (Aunty), Jill Rankin (Mum), Georgie Rankin, Liam Tozer (Cousin), John Rankin (Dad), Cliff Rankin (Grandpa), Lorraine Rankin (Nana), Front Row = Chanel Fletcher (Brother’s girlfriend), Kobe Tozer (Cousin), Robby Tozer (Aunty). Picture: Supplied.

It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for Georgie Rankin, 21, who was finalising the creation of a women’s QWFA division two team for Surfers Paradise in early 2018.

Rankin had never played footy and was in the Gold Coast Rollers Queensland Basketball League squad but made the decision to drop down to the club’s Southern Basketball League development team in order to also play for the Demons.

Rankin wore the no. 10 guernsey, the same as brother Paddy, 23, Rankin and father John wore while she played alongside sister Jessi, 25, at the Demons.

Geelong AFLW player Georgie Rankin (middle) with brother Paddy (left), father John and sister Jessi, each holding their Surfers Paradise guernsey. Picture: Supplied.

The Kirra product knew of her family’s strong links to football but only played for enjoyment before Geelong AFLW coach Paul Hood recognised her talent while taking the team for a training session while he was up watching last year’s under-18 state championships.

They invited her south to train with Geelong’s VFL team on two occasions before rookie listing her for the 2019 season.

Geelong AFLW player Georgie Rankin playing with Surfers Paradise. Picture: Supplied.

Rankin’s father John is chairman of Surfers Paradise and revealed the former Emmanuel College school captain had never been a student of any sport but had found her niche in footy.

“Georgie just loves life,” John Rankin said.

“She has never been a great student of sport. She wouldn’t sit and watch high level basketball when she was playing it and would be out surfing or doing something active instead.

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“I don’t think basketball ever really suited her stature. She was a defensive player and now she is an offensive one in footy. She was made to play footy.

“I only spent one or two afternoons teaching her how to kick in the backyard and from the start she could kick the ball on the run.

“I’m fairly philosophical about our family history in footy. I’m just a passionate Cats fan.

“Georgie could have been running around in any AFL team and I’d be stoked but the fact it’s for a club we have supported our whole lives is the icing on the cake.”

FACTBOX:

Name: Georgie Rankin

Age: 21

Height: 172cm

Born: Geelong, grew up at Kirra

Original club: Surfers Paradise Demons (QWFA Division 2 South)

AFLW club: Geelong (rookie)

AFLW debut: Round 1 2019 v Collinwood. Win.

Position: Wing

Family history at Cats: Great-great grandfather Teddy Rankin and his sons Cliff, Doug and Bert.

Previous sport: Basketball. Represented the Queensland at under-20 level.