In 2016, he played his first senior SANFL game for West Adelaide at the age of 16 and kicked two goals on debut.[9][10] He was later selected to represent South Australia in the 2017 and 2018 AFL Under 18 Championships where he was named in the All-Australian team both years and played a crucial role in South Australia's 2018 national championship.[11] Rankine attended Henley High School throughout his teenage years, where he played school football[12] alongside future Gold Coast teammate Jack Lukosius[13] and the pair were very influential in winning the 2018 SA Schools Championship.[14]
AFL career
Gold Coast (2019–2022)
Rankine was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with the third pick in the 2018 AFL draft.[15] Persistent hamstring and hip injuries prevented him from making his AFL debut in 2019[16] but the Suns showed faith in Rankine by agreeing to a two-year contract extension which tied him to the club until the end of 2022.[17]
Rankine played his 50th career game in his first home game at Adelaide, in round 2 against Richmond in 2023. In April 2023, he was subjected to racial abuse on social media,[22][23] which was investigated by AFL's integrity unit.[24] Late in the season, Rankine suffered a hamstring injury which kept him on the sidelines for about three weeks.[25] Rankine finished fourth in the Malcolm Blight Medal tally in just his first season at the club.[26] In the off-season, Rankine changed his guernsey number from 22 to 23, which was the number previously worn by Andrew McLeod, most recently Shane McAdam, and other Indigenous Adelaide players since McLeod. The number also matches Rankine's date of birth.[27]
In 2024, Rankine adopted a new role which saw him play more often as a midfielder. The shift was successful, and resulted in multiple matches in which Rankine had 20 or more disposals and multiple goals. For Sir Doug Nicholls Round, Rankine and his cousin Harley Hall designed Adelaide's (renamed for the occasion as Kuwarna) Indigenous guernsey, celebrating their shared Ngarrindjeri heritage.[28] In May, David King suggested that Rankine could become "a top two or three player" in the competition in a matter of weeks.[29] With moments to go and a single-digit margin in a match against Collingwood at the MCG, Rankine gave away a free kick for running further than 15 meters without taking a bounce, denying a potential game-saving score for Adelaide.[30] During this final play, Rankine injured his hamstring again, a repeat of the injury he suffered 10 months prior.[25]
In round 17 against Brisbane Lions, Rankine struck Lions defender Brandon Starcevich, and was suspended for four matches for the incident.[31][32] Rankine was racially abused on social media by a Brisbane club member, who had his membership revoked as a result. Both clubs condemned the behaviour.[33] In only his second game since returning from suspension, during the second quarter of the 56th Showdown against cross-town rivals Port Adelaide, Dan Houston engaged in rough conduct with Rankine. Rankine was immediately concussed, having to be stretchered off the ground. Houston was sent straight to the AFL's tribunal and banned for five matches.[34][35]
Personal life
In his spare time, Rankine enjoys making music.[36][37] His cousin is in a relationship with Gold Coast player Sean Lemmens[38] and the couple's daughter is Rankine's first cousin, once removed.[39]
Rankine's cousin is Harley Hall, an Indigenous artist with whom he shares native Australian heritage. It was alongside Hall that Rankine designed Adelaide's 2024 Indigenous guernsey.[28]
Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season.[40]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
