Dane Rampe grew up just six kilometres from the SCG and rarely missed a Sydney Swans game at the ground, spending countless winters cheering childhood idols Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton at the revered Moore Park venue.

And in Sydney’s clash with the West Coast Eagles at the SCG on Sunday afternoon, thousands of kids in admiration of Rampe will sing the same chants as the star defender runs out for his 150^th AFL appearance.

Rampe was among the 41,280 supporters in the SCG stands in 1999 as Tony Lockett kicked his 1300^th goal to steal the VFL/AFL goal-kicking record off Collingwood legend Gordon Coventry.

The boy from Clovelly in Sydney’s east was even among the thousands of ecstatic Swans fans who jumped the fence to swarm the goal-kicking juggernaut.

But 29-year-old Rampe will be the star of the show for Sunday’s milestone match, and he struggles to believe he’s played so many games for the club he’s always adored.

“I loved footy as a kid and dad, despite having come from a rugby league background, always loved coming to Swans games here,” Rampe said.

“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.”

Rampe thought his AFL dream was “all but done” when he returned home in 2012 to play local footy for the East Sydney Bulldogs.

He had just returned from a two-year stint at VFL club Williamstown, a desperate move in the hope of kick-starting an AFL career after countless draft rejections.

But after a year of “playing park footy with your mates”, the Swans invited Rampe to 2013 pre-season training and he’d sign as a rookie shortly after.

More than six years later, milestone man Rampe is an All Australian representative and a Sydney co-captain.

Formidable key forwards Josh Kennedy, Tom Hawkins and Taylor Walker are among the gun defender’s staggering rollcall of career scalps, and the likes of forward-line magicians Eddie Betts and Robbie Gray have received his merciless attention themselves.

Rampe admits he’s conquered a mountain of hurdles on the road to 150 games.

“It’s a pretty exciting week and something I’m pretty proud of,” Rampe said.

“Six or 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."