Arabic version: رامبي يقود سوانز في النهائي التمهيدي
According to ABC News, Dane Rampe will captain Sydney in Friday night’s AFL preliminary final against Fremantle at the SCG, standing in for injured skipper Callum Mills. The veteran defender described the opportunity as a privilege and “a little bit bittersweet”, while saying his overwhelming feeling was gratitude that the Swans remained in the premiership race.
Rampe also led Sydney during the 2024 finals when Mills suffered a hamstring strain before the preliminary final, with the Swans eventually losing that season’s grand final. This year’s campaign has unfolded under different circumstances: Mills injured his ACL in the first quarter of Sydney’s 53-point qualifying-final win over Brisbane, while vice-captain Isaac Heeney is among five players serving club-imposed bans following last month’s post-match incident at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne.
Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice will also not play again this season. Rampe was selected to lead the side by Mills, coach Dean Cox and club leaders. He is seeking his first premiership after appearing in grand-final defeats in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024.
The Swans re-drafted Rampe as a rookie with fellow defender Jake Lloyd at the end of last year. Lloyd has signed for a 15th season, but Rampe and the club have not decided whether he will continue next year. Mills could miss all or a sizable part of the 2027 season, while key forward Joel Amartey and winger Justin McInerney are nearing full fitness ahead of the Fremantle match.
