Sydney Swans co-captain Dane Rampe addressed the media ahead of training at the SCG on Thursday morning.
The All Australian defender will make his 150th AFL appearance as the Swans face the West Coast Eagles at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.
Thoughts on milestone match
“It’s a pretty exciting week and something I’m pretty proud of. Seven years ago I never thought I’d be in this position, so I’m incredibly grateful to the footy club for giving me this opportunity. Hopefully I can keep repaying the faith they’ve shown in me."
Swans’ recent form
“We’ve come off a pretty good month of footy. Unfortunately results haven’t gone our way, but if we can get a win this week, we can reassess after the bye and build some momentum going into the second half of the season.”
Rampe’s inspirational journey
“Back when I got drafted and even a couple of years before that, it was very rare that you’d be picking up mature-age players from the VFL or the SANFL and the other state leagues. But I think the landscape has changed over the last four to five years, and I think anyone playing good state-league footy is still in with a shot. Hopefully if blokes keep applying their craft they can hold hopes that they can still get picked up.”
Following the Swans as a kid
“I loved footy as a kid and dad, despite having come from a rugby league background, always loved coming to Swans games here. One of the earliest games I went to at the SCG was when Tony Lockett took over Gordon Conventry’s goal-kicking record. I’ve been a big Swans fan ever since that afternoon and it’s an absolute privilege to now be wearing the red and white. Brett Kirk and Adam Goodes were my two main idols growing up. But I also really looked up to Jude Bolton, and to now be wearing his number 24 guernsey is incredibly humbling and something I’m really proud of. I got to play with ‘Goodesy’ and now ‘Kirky’ is an assistant coach here, so it’s pretty surreal at times.”
