ARTICLE COURTESY OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
By Neil Cordy
HE should be a bundle of nerves, but standout rookie Dane Rampe can't wait for the enormous pressure of finals football.
Rampe, 22, has been one of the stories of the year after making the jump from the Sydney Football League to become a vital part of the Swans' premiership defence.
A season-ending injury to premiership defender Alex Johnson opened the door and the dashing left-footer walked right in, playing 20 games in his debut season.
Was Dane Rampe the best first-year player of 2013?
Last Friday night he had a taste of what's in store this week when he played on Hawthorn's Coleman medallist Jarryd Roughead.
"Roughy took me to the goalsquare on Friday night and he gave me a wink and I thought, 'Here we go'," Rampe said.
"He got one on me in the goalsquare but I've got some things I can work on with (John) Blakey, my defensive coach, and I love that.
"If I make a mistake, I make a mistake and I'm going to have to learn eventually. May as well be now."
Rampe's remarkable attitude is partly a result of him having believed his dream of playing AFL was over.
Two seasons in the VFL with Williamstown came to nothing when the Western Bulldogs chose not to pick him up in the rookie draft.
While in Melbourne, Sydney-born and raised Rampe went to the MCG to watch his first final.
"I remember going to my first finals game in Melbourne and thinking, 'Far out, this is what I'm here for and it's so far away'," Rampe said.
"From Williamstown, driving over the West Gate (Bridge) and seeing the stadium and the lights was almost teasing you.
"That's what played on my mind the most and the fact it felt so far away.
"I was doing everything I could, but it just wasn't happening. Now I count myself so lucky and I'm really proud of what's happened."
Rampe, who is nominated for the AFL Players' Association best first-year player award, returned to Sydney last year with his dream of playing in the AFL on the backburner.
While playing for Uni of NSW East Sydney, he went to Swans games.
"Yeah, I was coming here as a member with my mates," Rampe said. "A lot of my schoolmates (still) come. Nothing has really changed for them. They've just got someone they know who they can directly hurl abuse at, and they know actual personal things.
"I was here most games, and it's great to be out there and preparing for finals."
Article link: http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/young-swan-rampes-it-up-for-september/story-fni5fan7-1226710070658
Last Modified on 04/09/2013 12:39
