SYDNEY has turned to Dane Rampe to try and lead the Swans to an unlikely premiership in the absence of injured captain Callum Mills.
A heart-and-soul player who has played in four Grand Final defeats for the Swans, Rampe will captain the club in Friday's preliminary final against Fremantle at the SCG.
It is the second time the 36-year-old has stood in for an injured Mills, leading the Swans in 2024 en route to that year's decider loss to Brisbane.
Mills' vice-captain Isaac Heeney was among five Swans players banned by the club last month for breaching club standards.
The decision to select Rampe was made by Mills, coach Dean Cox and club leaders.
"Dane has always been an exceptionally tough footballer, and he continues to show remarkable leadership qualities, which we see on a daily basis inside the four walls," Cox said in a club statement.
"As devastating as it is to lose 'Millsy' so late in the season, we feel 'Ramps' has the perfect characteristics and experience to lead this team for the rest of this season.
"The boys are thrilled to run out alongside Dane on Friday night."
Rampe's return to captaincy comes after being re-drafted as a rookie by the Swans with fellow defender Jake Lloyd at the end of last year.
While Lloyd has signed on for a 15th season, neither Rampe nor the Swans have made a call on whether he will continue next year.
But the door is open for the former Swans co-captain, with defender Mills facing the possibility of missing the entire 2027 season with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.
Drafted at age 22 in 2013, Rampe was named co-captain with Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker for the 2019 season.
The trio handed the reins to Mills at the end of 2023, but their successor endured a tough 2024 season pockmarked by injury.
This year was the first time the 29-year-old had played more than 20 games since Sydney's 2022 Grand Final run.
Mills also earned significant praise for leading the Swans through the turmoil of last month's scandal.
Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice are the other Swans who won't play again this season.
Cox's selection conundrum is further complicated with key forward Joel Amartey (Achilles) and winger Justin McInerney (hamstring) nearing full fitness.
Hayden McLean - playing as cover for Amartey - slotted three majors against the Lions, with fellow talls Charlie Curnow (five goals) and Logan McDonald (six) also busy.
