Swan Rampe living his dream

[ScottH]

Having helped put Sydney's little brother in his place, boom Swans' rookie Dane Rampe will fulfil a personal AFL dream when he plays against West Coast next weekend.

Defender Rampe has been the find of the season for the premiers, playing 13 games, including each of the past 11.

With Alex Johnson sidelined for the whole season, Rhyce Shaw playing just two games and Marty Mattner retiring in mid-season Rampe has earned plaudits form coach John Longmire for his consistency.

He equalled his career-best tally of 18 possessions in Sunday's 129-point rout of Greater Western Sydney and also kicked his first senior goal.

A Sydney product, who lives a handful of kilometres form the SCG, Rampe will play his first senior game in Perth this weekend.

He grew up watching the rivalry between the Swans and Eagles, highlighted by the incredibly close 2005-06 grand finals between the two clubs.

Swan Rampe living his dream | SBS World News

[stellation]

A GWS supporting friend touched on the question of Rampe to me at the end of the game. He highlighted that with about 20 games under his belt at the end of the season and being a physically mature chap that has proven himself at a top 4 side he would be a rather attractive option to the Giants, would slot straight in to their 22 and with one more key defender would make their backline suddenly look a lot stronger. He did highlight that if he's a rookie he's off contract at the end of this year and GWS could probably afford to offer a Mummy-to-Sydney style contract (3 years/$300k per year) which might be a bit more than the Swans can do.

It was just friendly ribbing, and really I took it more as acknowledgement of just how good he has been in the seniors this season. He's improving every single week.

[liz]

A GWS supporting friend touched on the question of Rampe to me at the end of the game. He highlighted that with about 20 games under his belt at the end of the season and being a physically mature chap that has proven himself at a top 4 side he would be a rather attractive option to the Giants, would slot straight in to their 22 and with one more key defender would make their backline suddenly look a lot stronger. He did highlight that if he's a rookie he's off contract at the end of this year and GWS could probably afford to offer a Mummy-to-Sydney style contract (3 years/$300k per year) which might be a bit more than the Swans can do.

It was just friendly ribbing, and really I took it more as acknowledgement of just how good he has been in the seniors this season. He's improving every single week.

It was reported a couple of weeks ago on the Swans' website that he has just signed up (with us) for a further two years.

[Primmy]

I just love the way he 'gets' it. The Bloods culture I mean, not just the game itself. We are lucky someone was bright enough to pick him up in the first place.

[jono2707]

I've found it really pleasing to watch him improve as the season has gone on. He's pretty smart, physically impressive and has very good disposal. A keeper even with AJ back next year...

[swansrob]

It was reported a couple of weeks ago on the Swans' website that he has just signed up (with us) for a further two years.

Something I wondered about that - are we able to sign him mid-season as a senior list player, given his elevation, or have we extended his rookie contract? The latter would seem silly as we can put him on the senior list at ND using a late pick we were never going to use anyway.

[liz]

Something I wondered about that - are we able to sign him mid-season as a senior list player, given his elevation, or have we extended his rookie contract? The latter would seem silly as we can put him on the senior list at ND using a late pick we were never going to use anyway.

I imagine we have contracted him for 2014-15, given he is already contracted this year. There would be an understanding that he will be drafted to the senior list at the end of this season.

[barry]

In his first few games, the opposition was trying to isolate him and were seeing him as the weak link in our defense.

But not anymore. He's playing the equal of the other defenders.

[Panttz]

I actually cant remember seeing him make any howlers or have a terribly bad game so far this year. Grundy on the other hand...

[ScottH]

Comparing AJ last year and Rampe this year, there is not a huge amount of difference between the 2.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?tid1=17&pid1=3501&tid2=17&pid2=3898&type=A&fid1=P&fopt1=2012&fid2=S

[ShockOfHair]

You'd never pick him as a dozen-game player. I love how he slotted that set shot off a step.

He's also another win for the Swans system. You go a lot further building a team of out of good to pretty good 22-year-olds than trying to pick 18 year-old future champions.

[Melbournehammer]

Is it only me that thinks he looks a little like job stephens when he is playing - especially with the blonded locks ?

[707]

Been noticing in the last few weeks how calm he is under pressure, good disposal, hardly a clanger and also appears to have good pace and endurance. Being a mature player who has developed so quickly, it's a bonus for us to cover Mattner's unforeseen retirement.

If Shaw and AJ are up and going next year, I'm wondering if he would make a very good midfield tagger, that would free up other genuine mids from having to tag adding to our midfield depth.

Either way, Rampe has been an unexpected bonus.

[erica]

I think he challengers LRT for the club best hair award.

[Triple B]

Is it only me that thinks he looks a little like job stephens when he is playing - especially with the blonded locks ?

With the lack of responses, I guess I'm not the only one who has NFI who Job Stephens is...