Australian Football

Originally from Chilwell, Bert Rankin debuted for Geelong in 1912, only two seasons after his father, Edward Rankin, had retired. A highly skilled and clever player, he inherited his father's fleetness of foot and adroitness, as well as being a marvellous exponent of the drop kick. He played his early football on the forward lines before moving to the wing, where his exceptional pace could be exploited to maximum effect. In 1917 he took over as the senior side's centreman, and for the next seven seasons he was without peer in the position anywhere in the land. When interstate football resumed after the war, Bert Rankin became a regular fixture in VFL representative sides, and was appointed captain in 1922. He and his brother Cliff were the first siblings to play together in the same VFL combination.

In 1923, Rankin appeared set to embark on the most exciting phase of his VFL career when he was appointed captain of Geelong. However, late in the season his form deteriorated, and he was dropped, whereupon, in a display of petulance that seems hard to credit nowadays, he walked out on the club and never played again. In 11 seasons with the Pivotonians he played 132 senior games. He also played seven times for the VFL.

Author - John Devaney