BY JAMES DAMPNEY for www.afl.com.au
SYDNEY Swans rookie Dane Rampe will be promoted to the club's senior list this week as he firms as a round-one bolter for the start of their AFL premiership defence.
AFL.com.au confirmed that Rampe, a 22-year-old Sydneysider who was nabbed with pick No.37 in last year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, will be added to the senior list as cover for the Swans' backline.
It will cap a remarkable rise for Rampe, who spent two years training with the Western Bulldogs and played with Williamstown in the VFL before starring in the Sydney AFL league in 2012.
There are spots opening up in the Swans' backline for their opening-round clash with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, with Alex Johnson already ruled out for the season.
Nick Smith and Marty Mattner have also had limited pre-seasons following knee and hip injuries, although both appear likely to prove their fitness ahead of the clash with the Giants.
Tony Armstrong is also pushing his claims for a regular spot in the backline, but even if the Swans want to name Rampe as an emergency for round one, he must be on the club's senior list.
At training on Tuesday, Rampe spent long periods lining up in a backline that at times included Ted Richards, Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mattner, Armstrong and Smith.
The coaching staff admitted it was still unsure of the side that will run out on Saturday afternoon, but there is one essential that every player selected will have.
"I don't know what the side is, but any player that plays on Saturday is going to be fully fit," Swans veteran Ryan O'Keefe said.
"That's the theme we're going to go with. We're not going to play guys that aren't ready."
Asked who was pushing to replace Johnson in the backline, O'Keefe said, "There's been a few guys that have played well down there.
"Young Dane has had a good pre-season and good trial games.
"I think the strength of our side is we've got some versatility and can swing it around and change to fill whatever holes we need to plug."
Injuries and a late start to their pre-season due to their march to last year's flag have some suggesting the Swans could be underdone for the start of their premiership defence.
But O'Keefe, who was part of the 2005 Swans flag-winning outfit that lost the Grand Final the following year, remained confident their pre-season had been as productive as possible.
"I think our program that we've set over this pre-season has been as good as any and guys that have started a bit later have done the work," he said.
"The team that's going to be playing on the weekend is going to be fully fit and ready to go."
There has been some notable confidence coming from the GWS camp ahead of round one, with the newcomers expressing their belief they might just be able to match it with the Swans at ANZ Stadium.
O'Keefe insisted he hadn't heard the talk out of western Sydney, although the wry smile on his face suggested otherwise.
"No, not at all," he said. "No. Not really. We'll wait and see.
"It all comes down to actions on Saturday. I think both teams will be ready to go and looking forward to it."
Fellow Sydney-sider, Sam Naismith will be out of action for 4-5 weeks due to a thumb injury.
Dane Rampe is a defender in NAB AFL Fantasy. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
Last Modified on 27/03/2013 09:17
