Speaking at today’s official season launch at Parliament House, Longmire said the 22-year-old Sydneysider, who was taken at pick 37 by the Swans in the 2012 Rookie Draft, will be promoted to the club’s senior list ahead of round one.
“(Dane) will probably be upgraded today, so he will come onto our senior list from our rookie list and that gives us the opportunity to play him,” Longmire said.
“It doesn’t guarantee he’ll play, it just means that even as an emergency he’ll need to come onto the senior list.”
Rampe’s impending elevation comes on the back of a terrific pre-season from the defender, who lined up for the Swans in every pre-season match this season.
His promotion from the rookie list also caps off several years of hard work, with Rampe spending two years training with the Western Bulldogs and playing for Williamstown in the VFL competition before being selected by the Swans this season.
“He’s had a very good summer,” Longmire said of Rampe.
“He’s a 22-year-old local product from Clovelly and he’s done a good job over the pre-season so we might give him a go.”
There are spots up for grabs in the Swans' backline for their opening-round clash with GWS 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 Saturday’s clash.
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, Marty Mattner and Nick Smith.
Swans defender Marty Mattner said Rampe, as well as fellow young defender Tony Armstrong, have been among the Swans’ best this pre-season.
“Dane Rampe had an amazing pre-season,” he said.
“It was probably one of the best pre-seasons at the club, and his NAB Cup form has been amazing.”
“Tony Armstrong has also been playing really well, so those two guys are guys who could slot into the backline and those two have really stepped up this year.”
