Cliff Rankin

Who was Cliff Rankin?

Cliff Rankin was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League from 1915 to 1928.

Nicknamed "Ticker", his father Teddy and brother Bert both played football for Geelong as well.

Despite making his debut in 1915, Rankin never played a full season until 1920 due to World War I. Rankin kicked 48 goals in 1920 to finish the season as Geelong's top goal-kicker. The following season he again topped their goal-kicking with 63 goals which set a then club record for most ever goals in a season. It was also the highest tally by any player in the league that year for the home and away season and included a bag of ten goals against Fitzroy. In total Rankin won Geelong's leading goal-kicker award on four separate occasions.

Rankin captained-coached Geelong from 1925 until 1927, steering them to their inaugural premiership in his first year in charge. He led from the front in the Grand Final with five goals.

A regular Victorian interstate representative, Rankin appeared in 14 games for his state, kicking 30 goals. Rankin was named as an emergency in Geelong's official 'Team of the Century'.