Jamilla Rankin began her football journey in Eureka, a small Byron Shire suburb with a population of less than 400 people.
On Monday night, that journey will continue with Rankin part of the Maitldas' squad that will take on Korea Republic in Newcastle in front of more than 20,000 fans.
The 21-year-old began playing football at a young age, influenced by her older sister and family to join the sport.
“I started playing pretty young, just at my local club called Eureka FC. It is a really small town, like a village almost. The club was about 10 minutes from where I lived,” Rankin said.
“I got into football because my dad played, my whole family played and my older sister played who I looked up to. I wanted to be just like her.
“I got into it pretty early, around five to six-years-old. I played with boys for a lot of my younger years. There weren’t too many opportunities for girls' teams nearby.”
Rankin’s talent was quickly noticed, travelling several hours to be part of the Newcastle Jets Academy and the Northern NSW Football National Youth Championships team before she was forced to make the move to Queensland.
“I played with [Eureka FC] until I was about 12 [or] 13-years-old. They were my childhood club. Then it got to the point where if I wanted to pursue football, I would have to move to a bigger city with more opportunities,” Rankin said.
“I was training with the Newcastle Jets and their academy. They have a really good girls’ academy. But even then, it was still six to seven hours to drive me to training, so that wasn’t quite sustainable.
“I really enjoyed being a part of that academy. That was the first time that I had been in a girls' team. It was new for me socially and on the football side as well. It was really good for me and my development in being able to compare myself to other girls because I had never seen or experienced women’s football.
“Then nationals was my first experience of statewide and nationwide football.
“Looking back on it now, I wasn't as grateful as I should have been. My parents sacrificed a lot. I remember that I would finish school early on a Friday and we would drive down and have training that night with the Jets. Then we would stay on the weekend to play a game, then my parents would drive back after the game.
“Then we did the move to Brisbane, which is only a few hours away and I joined the Brisbane Roar academy.”
Rankin’s football career quickly took off after, making her A-League debut for Brisbane Roar at the age of 16, where she made 45 appearances before she moved to Melbourne Victory in 2023 and made 23 appearances.
The defender then made the move overseas last year to play for German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim.
Rankin said that the move to Europe was challenging at first but now Germany feels like her second home.
“I am actually really enjoying it. I am in Germany at the moment. Moving over there had a few challenges with a new country and new language,” Rankin said.
“Everything was so new, it was quite overwhelming at the start but I have settled in, [I] love my team, love the football and love the girls. It is really starting to feel like home and I feel quite comfortable in that environment now. I am loving it.”
Rankin earned her first Matildas' cap in 2022 after being substituted on for fellow northern NSW product Emily van Egmond against Spain.
Rankin said that was the highlight of her career so far.
“As a child, [playing for the national team] is what you dream of and it is so amazing to be able to play for your national team and your country. That is my biggest achievement and my proudest moment of my career so far,” Rankin said.
The young defender said that she recognised how important this camp was in the Matildas’ preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ and had her sights set on being part of the squad that plays in the tournament on home soil.
“Camp has been good so far and the girls are always welcoming. We have had one session and then have another one [on Wednesday] afternoon and then we are pretty much into games and it all goes pretty quickly,” Rankin said.
“Sometimes you have to remind yourself to take a step back and slow down and enjoy the experience whilst you're here.
“I think every opportunity that this team gets to come together to train together and play together is a good thing and is really important. There are some new players that have come in and we are slowly integrating into the team and understanding the tactics, the culture and everything.
“I think that being a part of the Maitldas' squad for the Asian Cup would be an incredible experience and achievement in my career. I think at the moment I am not thinking too far ahead. I am just focusing on this camp and this moment and then when I go back to my club, I will be doing the most that I can as well.
“Any time you get an opportunity to play on Australian soil, let alone an international tournament like that, would be pretty surreal.”
Rankin has big goals for her career with one of those being to be a core part of the national team.
“A big goal of mine is to be a part of the Matildas' squad, to be called in regularly and play more minutes,” Rankin said.
“I also want to continue to play football over in Europe. It is very professional and it is such a high level that I can continue to push myself day in and day out.
“Those two things are quite important for me at the moment.”
But despite her national and international success, Rankin said that the impact she has had on her childhood community is one of the biggest privileges of being a professional athlete and hopes that she can inspire others to play.
“Sometimes I forget not the impact that I have on that area but that people from that area know me and look up to me. Maybe I might not know them but the support and everything, I couldn’t ask for more,” Rankin said.
“The people from [the far north coast] region, the people that I know are such amazing people and to be able to be in this squad and the opportunity for them to watch me is honestly a privilege and sometimes it doesn’t feel real. Just a few years ago I was just one of them.
“Sometimes you never think you will reach this point in your life but then life comes at you hard and now I get the opportunity to play for a national team on home soil in front of friends and family. It is pretty crazy.
“My advice to any kids wanting to play is to have fun. Everyone says that all the time but I think there is no point in doing something or pushing yourself if you don’t enjoy it. You can kind of choose and create environments where you really enjoy it and those are the moments that you will thrive. Do what you love.”
Don’t miss out on watching Jamilla Rankin and the Matildas take on the Korea Republic at McDonald Jones Stadium on Monday night, with kick-off at 7.30pm.
Get your tickets HERE.
