[1] He was picked up at number 1 in the 2004 AFL Pre-season draft by the Western Bulldogs, who needed a tall forward, even though Rawlings was probably more at home in the backline.
Jade played most of the year in 2006 with the Tasmanian Devils Football Club in the VFL showing some good form.
[6] His final game was played in his home state of Tasmania (at Aurora Stadium), a match where Rawlings was visibly emotional, as he was well respected by the Hawthorn and Kangaroos sides.
Part of the way through the 2009 season, he was replaced at Coburg by former Brisbane Lions player Craig McRae, when after Round 11, 2009, he was appointed caretaker senior coach of Richmond Football Club, following the resignation of Terry Wallace.
Rawlings was dubbed "The Blade" because of 5 cuts he made to the lineup for his first game as caretaker senior coach, including veteran Joel Bowden.
[13] On 28 September 2017, Rawlings became senior coach of Casey Demons, Melbourne Football Club's reserves in the VFL League.
[20] In 2022, Rawlings coached Norwood to their 31st SANFL premiership, winning a 1-point thriller against minor premiers North Adelaide.
In 2024, Rawlings coached Norwood to a remarkable and worthy minor premiership, dominating most of the season by being on top of the ladder for the majority of the rounds.