Geelong AFLW player Georgie Rankin has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the community, named one of four finalists for the prestigious Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Rankin has been a leader in the Geelong Cats’ community programs in 2021, going above and beyond club expectations and giving generously of her time across a number of Cats in the Community programs.

The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award is presented to the AFLM or AFLW player who has best demonstrated the values of the late former Melbourne Football Club president and player Jim Stynes in their commitment to the community, helping others and making a difference, and the way they played and represented the game on field.

Rankin is driven to create positive environments and experiences for people to thrive in, and has been heavily involved in the inclusion and multicultural space. She welcomed guests at the Welcome to Our Game event in March, filmed a welcome video and helped run a footy clinic at the Welcome to Geelong event in July, and attended an Iftar Dinner at Diversitat as a Geelong Cats representative during Ramadan.

The 23-year-old is also the Geelong Cats’ AFLW ambassador the Sensory Zone, an important inclusion initiative at GMHBA Stadium for people with sensory needs and disabilities.

Wanting to take her involvement further, Rankin also organised a meeting with local health organisation Barwon Child, Youth and Family – one of the Cats’ partners for the Sensory Zone – to better educate herself on sensory needs, and become a true champion for the Sensory Zone.

Rankin was also among the cohort of players to assist at the annual Geelong Cats All-Abilities Clinic earlier in the year.

Rankin has also been involved in a number of other Cats in the Community programs, including the GMHBA Healthy Heroes program, where she was a facilitator for the Grade 3/4 ‘Veterans’ program, and a presenter at the Grade 5/6 ‘Leadership Group’ program.

The 2021 Cats AFLW Hoops Award winner is also partaking in Next Gen Academy coaching for the V-Line Cup, and was part of the working committee to design Geelong’s inaugural AFLW Pride guernsey.

The other finalists for the 2021 Jim Stynes Community Leadership award are Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Jordan Roughhead (Collingwood) and Nicola Stevens (Carlton).

The winner of the award will be announced at the 2021 Brownlow Medal Night.