Sydney Swans defender Dane Rampe has praised the club’s senior players for helping to set him on the right track this season.

After a whirlwind start to his AFL career, which saw him upgraded from the rookie list to make his debut in round one, Rampe said the Swans’ experienced players have guided him to success on field this year.

“I think the really good thing about our experienced (players) is that they’re really good in helping you through and letting you know what your role is and just taking it from there,” Rampe said at Monday afternoon’s recovery session at Coogee Beach.

“That’s probably helped me fit in as well as I have.

“I think that’s the big part of having such an experienced group of players around you, and when something is not going right, they take it upon themselves to come and ask you how you’re going.

“Everyone from the team that we’ve got down back, to the development team in general, has been really, really good for my development and really good for just a clear head to come into games and know what my role it.”

Off the field, the Sydney-born player is also benefitting from the experience and leadership of his Swans’ team mates in his first season at the club.

In particular, Rampe said his senior mentor, Josh Kennedy, has helped him understand the importance of a work-life balance while playing football at an AFL level.

“(Josh Kennedy) has been really good and I see quite a bit of him outside the footy club,” he said.

“Obviously you have your defensive mentors who are the Teddy Richards and the Malceskis and McVeighs, and that’s more for the footy specific stuff.

“Josh Kennedy mentors more off-field stuff and how you’re travelling outside footy and what your work-life balance is like, which is what I think has been the key to me travelling pretty well this year.”

Rampe produced another consistent performance in Sunday afternoon’s 129-win over GWS at the SCG, with the 23-year-old collecting a career-high 18 possessions, four tackles as well as kicking his first ever AFL goal in the second quarter.

The young defender laid the perfect tackle deep in the Swans’ forward 50 and said he was pleased to have made the most of his opportunity with a great snap for goal.

“I was really rapt,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to get the tackle on in the deep pocket and then kind of waltzed over a little bit slower than usual so the Giants’ players could flood back a bit and then I could treat myself to a goal.

“It was lucky it went through and it was good to get the monkey off my back and hopefully it is one of many more to come.”

Looking ahead to this Sunday’s challenge against West Coast at Perth’s Patersons Stadium, Rampe said the Swans were expecting a fierce challenge from the Eagles, who fell short against Fremantle in yesterday’s Western Derby.

“I think they’re obviously coming off a tough loss yesterday in the (Derby) and they are going to be wanting to gain some form back,” he said.

“They’re going to want to prove something to their supporters on their home deck.”