Rampe, 36, leads Swans into preliminary final as Mills sidelined
Dane Rampe will captain the Swans against Fremantle on Friday with Mills out through injury.
Dane Rampe will lead Sydney into Friday night's preliminary final at the SCG with captain Callum Mills ruled out by an ACL tear in his right knee. The 36-year-old veteran has captained the Swans once before, in 2024, when they reached the Grand Final.
Mills' vice-captain Isaac Heeney is among five players banned by the club for breaching club standards last month, leaving Rampe the natural choice. Coach Dean Cox said Rampe has the right "characteristics and experience" to lead the team through the remainder of finals.
A Swans premiership has eluded Rampe across four Grand Final losses as a player.
- 36
- Rampe's age
- 2nd time
- This is Rampe's captaincy stint
- 4 Grand Finals
- Rampe lost as a player
- 2013 at age 22
- Rampe drafted
Why it mattersA preliminary final is a one-game-elimination contest; Mills' injury forces a last-minute captaincy change in the Swans' bid for a flag.
AustraliaSydney's premiership hopes depend on stopping Fremantle on Friday with an emergency skipper stepping in during the most high-pressure week of the season.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
