Shot at top: Dane Rampe could replace Alex Johnson. Photo: Getty Images
Sydney are considering promoting youngster Dane Rampe from the rookie list so he can make his AFL debut when the Swans open their premiership defence against cross-town rival Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
The versatile Sydney Football League graduate from Clovelly is in contention to replace defender Alex Johnson, whose 2013 is already over after a serious knee injury, and could be one of a handful of non-premiership winning Swans to break into the 22 this week.
The Swans are not in the business of handing out games to youngsters just for the sake of it, but saw enough in the 22-year-old Rampe to play him in each of their five pre-season games.
There is a recent precedent at the Swans with picking early-season bolters. Just 12 months ago, they promoted Harry Cunningham for the season-opener against the Giants after the teenager turned in a strong summer on the track.
Rampe, at 189 centimetres and 89 kilograms, was plucked from the SFL with pick 37 in last year's rookie draft and, like Johnson, is capable of playing on tall and small forwards. So important is Johnson, who did not miss a game last year, they do not have a like-for-like replacement for him waiting in the wings.
"It will depend on who we play as far as what we do with it – we've just got to be open-minded," coach John Longmire said. "We've got to make a decision on Dane Rampe on our rookie list . . . Marty Mattner can play on some of the type of players Alex played on. Dane Rampe has been playing there the last month on similar type players, there's a few options, it'll just depend on who we play."
Johnson will be the only member of Sydney's premiership 22 unavailable to face the Giants but fellow defenders Nick Smith and Mattner are not considered certainties to play. Both made pleasing returns against Port Adelaide two weeks ago and continued their build-up last week in a practice game with the seconds.
Premier ruckman Shane Mumford has been given the green light to play alongside Mike Pyke despite having an interrupted preseason while Ben McGlynn, who missed the grand final due to injury, will also line up.
Longmire said fringe players such as Tony Armstrong, Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb and Jesse White were also in the frame.
The Swans were off the pace during the NAB Cup, beating only expansion club Gold Coast as they played catch-up after their late start to the pre-season because of their premiership success.
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