He was just a face in the crowd cheering on the Swans until two years ago, but troubleshooting Sydney AFL defender Dane Rampe is the one receiving the cheers now.
Defender Rampe, 24, has played every game this year and shown no sign of the sophomore syndrome that often afflicts players in their second season.
Rampe, who will line up in Saturday’s AFL qualifying final against Fremantle at ANZ Stadium, showcased his value last week by quelling the threat of Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt.
The Tigers ace kicked kicked three goals on Ted Richards in the first 15 minutes.
Rampe was then switched to Riewoldt and kept him to just one major for the rest of the match.
“When you get those roles in the middle of the game I really enjoy the challenge the coaches give,” Rampe told AAP.
“That goes a long way to doing a half decent job, enjoying and embracing the challenge.”
Rampe’s ability to mark both small and tall forwards has made the 188cm defender a valuable member of the side.
He could find himself on a tall forward this week or perhaps even one of Fremantle’s famed small forwards, Hayden Ballantyne or Michael Walters.
“I take pride in getting a number of different opponents throughout the game,” Rampe said.
While most of the Swans’ local products have emerged from the western outskirts of Sydney, Rampe was born, and still lives, in Clovelly, just a few kilometres away from the SCG.
He was there in 1999 when Sydney forward Tony Lockett kicked his record-breaking 1300th AFL goal.
“I was about to run out on the ground and dad held me back,” Rampe recalled.
“I used to go to every game as a kid and probably even up to 2012, the year they won the premiership, I was still watching in the stands.
“You just pinch yourself every morning you walk in, because I just can’t believe it sometimes.”
While he lives a short distance from the SCG, Rampe took the longer route to an AFL career.
He played two seasons with VFL club Wiliamstown and then spent 2012 in the local Sydney competition winning the medal for its best player.
