The Sydney Swans claimed a 9-point victory over St Kilda at the SCG in Round 12, securing their eighth win of the season and an equal fourth position on the ladder.
Co-captain Dane Rampe says that whilst the team are looking forward to the second half of the season, the side are not getting too far ahead of themselves.
The Swans are preparing to face Hawthorn this Friday night, who have always proven to be a tough opposition in recent times, but the side enters with plenty of confidence after strong performances against some of the top of the table opposition.
“We are obviously in a pretty good position, and to be honest, one that has probably surprised us a little bit with how quick we have seemed to capture some form and some of young boys standing up this year,” Rampe said on SEN’s Dwayne’s World yesterday.
“We have more than matched it with some of the best teams at the top of the table, so we are really looking forward to the second half of the year but we have the Hawks this Friday night.
“We have always had really good battles with them so we have to worry about them this week, but bigger picture, we have proven we are more than capable.”
The co-captain paid credit to the entire side’s effort, not singling out one players performance throughout the season thus far.
Rampe, who polled four votes from the coaches this week, said it was the complete cross-sectional effort and every player playing their role which had brought about success.
“It has probably been a feature of our team the first half of the year,” Rampe said when asked about the entire side’s effort.
“We haven’t had the same players dominating each week. You have Luke Parker ad Josh Kennedy that are seasoned pros, but in the early few rounds we had our rising star nominees (Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell, Chad Warner) be our best players on the ground.
“And we have other blokes like Ollie Florent, Will Hayward has come back into the team and shown he is more than capable and Isaac Heeney showing what he can do. Tom Hickey has come in and been our most consistent and best over the course of the season.
“Everyone is playing their role and it’s about everyone doing what they can and using their turn when it presents itself.”
Rampe said that the side’s effort was part of something that has been common at the club for years, however to this day, it continues to be empowering and allows the team to thrive when required.
“When you have a weight of numbers, which is what we talk about, doing what they need to do and empower themselves throughout their career, that is infectious,” Rampe said.
“We seem to be thriving off supporting each other and doing our job for the team and that has something that has been consistent over the decades and holding us in good stead when it matters.”
