All-Australian Dane Rampe says Swans ready for another decade of defensive dominance
Sydney Swans co-captain Dane Rampe has anointed two players as the most likely candidates to succeed retiring greats Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Smith and Heath Grundy in key roles next year.
Sydney
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Not even the SCG goalpost could hamper Dane Rampe’s extraordinary rise this season as he heralded the dawn of a bold new era for the Sydney Swans backline.
The bulk retirements of Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith and Kieren Jack look set to test the famous defensive strength that has defined the Swans for so many years.
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Even in the year that rein of dominance ended, Rampe swam against the tide to make the All Australian squad announced.
Now the defensive colossus has anointed the two young stars he believes can fill the enormous void that’s been left.
Rampe believes young Lewis Melican and Aliir Aliir are the future custodians of Sydney’s take no prisoners trademark.
“I see Lewis and Allir being the pillars of our defence, probably for the next decade hopefully,” said Rampe, as the Swans announced a new back-of-jumper sponsorship with property giants, realestate.com.au.
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“I think they can work a really good one-two punch combo.
“Millsy (Callum Mills) took a great step in playing that lock down defender and hopefully we’ll get a few more boys coming in.
“Riley Stoddart in the twos is looking good. There’s a bit of an evolution there and some real excitement.”
As infamous as Rampe’s scamper up the goalpost was earlier this season, the Swans co-captain did not let the drama engulf him and his ‘best ever’ AFL season — in a year when Sydney missed the finals for the first time in a decade — has been built on leadership.
“I think (it’s my best). I think it’s been my most consistent,” said Rampe of his All Australian nomination.
“I haven’t really had a chance to think about it because I’ve really just been focused on the last two weeks and getting the wins, but I think consistency was my big focus going into the start of the year. Being a first year captain, I think I’ve delivered on that.
“It’s a nice recognition at the end of the year and hopefully it’s a sign of me being able to play my role in the team, which I think I’ve done for the majority of the season.”
Realestate.com.au takes its place on the back of the Swans jumpers in place of CitiBank, who had been partners since 2005.
Swans chief Tom Harley said it was a significant commercial decision.
“It’s the first time in 15 years that the back of jumper has been available,” he said.
GIANTS SNUBBED BY ALL-AUSTRALIAN SELECTORS
Ben Horne
Greater Western Sydney’s billing as underdogs in their own city has been inflamed by yet another All-Australian snubbing.
As the Western Bulldogs prepare to ride into Sydney’s west as favourites for next week’s elimination final, the game’s most in-demand star Stephen Coniglio has once again been dismissed by representative selectors along with Tim Taranto and Lachie Whitfield.
Giants coach Leon Cameron brushed off the latest cold shoulder from south of the border, but all the motivations are there for the competition’s youngest team to tap into an us against the world mentality for a finals campaign where all the odds have seemingly been stacked against them.
GWS key back Nick Haynes is no certainty to play in the final, after suffering a nasty larynx injury inflicted by Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli two weeks ago — an incident that the AFL match review dismissed before even waiting to hear on Hayne’s health.
The Giants are currently ranked $2.05 outsiders for a final that will be played in the heart of Sydney’s west, and critics have been as quick as the punters to write off a side besieged by injuries and facing a team that have been their arch nemesis.
GWS chief David Matthews spoke out angrily recently about vindictive forces from Victoria that have tried to destabilise the club, despite the fact the start-up has improved its crowds this year in rugby league heartland and is entering into a fourth straight finals campaign.
The Giants released a provocative call to arms video to fans on Sunday, but coach Cameron yesterday refused to buy into talk of more NSW bias by All-Australian selectors or condemn the AFL for letting Brownlow favourite Bontempelli play on for the Bulldogs in the finals while Haynes fights to play.
“I haven’t even looked at who the (All Australian) selectors are,” said Cameron of a panel that features no one from NSW.
“There’s always going to be some hard luck stories. You could reel off two or three players at every footy club.
“To have Haynesy and Jeremy (Haynes and Jeremy Cameron were both selected) in that squad is pleasing.
“(In regards to Bontempelli), look that’s done and dusted. I know there was a fair bit of speculation about it and we moved on straight away. The main concern was Nick’s health and people are going to take hits in footy.
“The MRP had a look at it and deemed it not necessary to put a player out from the game. Once that’s done what happens in footy clubs is you actually move on within about 30 seconds.
“We look forward to the Bulldogs game and we know there’s a rivalry there which is great. It’s great for footy. Rivalries make games of AFL.”
GWS forward Brent Daniels said players had taken no notice of their ranking as underdogs by bookies.
Co-captain Phil Davis is confident crucial backman Haynes though, will defy the odds.
“Obviously he didn’t speak for about the week after … but in recent days he’s feeling really confident,” said Davis.
“Obviously the specialist will be the one that helps make that final call but I think he’s had an outstanding year and we’re a significantly better side when he’s playing.
“He’s desperate to play and we’re desperate for him to play as well. He’s confident, and I’m confident he’ll get up too. He’s been able to perform through a fair bit of adversity this year and perform well.”
Davis dismissed talk of a Bulldogs hoodoo for the Giants, and also played down the pressure building on GWS if another finals campaign goes up in flames.
“It doesn’t come into my thoughts,” he said.
“We’ve missed out the past three finals series so we’re very hungry and the fact it’s the Dogs is a bit of a side story.”