36yo Swans great’s tears with future unclear after finals exit… as coach hailed for ‘class’ act

The pain of Sydney’s 12-point preliminary final loss to Fremantle was written clearly across the face of Dane Rampe.

As Dockers players celebrated their extraordinary comeback from 21 points down at three-quarter time to secure just their second Grand Final berth, the Swans acting captain, part of a defence that had held the minor premiers to just seven goals in the first three quarters, was on his haunches, sobbing.

Having turned 36 in June, the club stalwart answered the call to fill in for the injured Callum Mills as skipper for the prelim with regular deputy Isaac Heeney stood down for breaching team standards in the aftermath of an alleged incident at the Pullman Hotel on finals eve.

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Overlooked in four drafts, only to make good on a Swans lifeline to play 289 games and counting, claim a best and fairest in 2019, secure All-Australian selection in 2016 and captain the club from 2019-2023, Rampe’s career resume has only one major achievement missing.

But as first fellow defender Tom McCartin, then coach Dean Cox, attempted to console him with a heartfelt embrace, the veteran’s tears told of a man running out of time to claim an elusive premiership.

Speaking post-game, Cox was non-committal on Rampe’s future, saying he had “earned the right to get through this year” before a call was made either way.

“I haven’t spoken to Dane about the possibilities next year,” he said.

“He’s earned the right to get through this year.

Like every player, we’ll have discussions in the coming weeks about what the future looks like, and that won’t be different for Dane.”

“He’s earned the right to say if he wants to play on or if he doesn’t, and then we just have those conversations from there.”

“I can’t speak highly enough of what Dane has done for our football club ever since he’s been here - he’s a club favourite, he’s a fan favourite.

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“The way he goes about his football, the way he prepares – his emotional intelligence is as high as I’ve seen. He leads really strongly.

“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get it done for him.”

Rampe is one of just five Swans remaining out of contract heading into 2027.

He and fellow veteran Jake Lloyd were delisted at the end of 2026 in order to free up spots on the list, with both re-drafted as rookies.

The pair share a more unwanted piece of history, too: they have each lost four Grand Finals, finishing on the wrong side of a Swans defeat in 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2024.

Rampe’s emotions were mirrored across the rest of the team.

Youngster Harry Kyle was left with head in hands on the interchange bench on the final siren.

Tom Papley did his best to pay tribute to the crowd as the Swans made their way from the field, but he too needed to be comforted by the injured Mills as defeat hit hard.

Through the pain, the Swans remained dignified in defeat – none more so than Cox.

Vision from Channel 7 showed the Sydney coach entering the Fremantle rooms post-match to congratulate Justin Longmuir, under whom he had worked during his playing days at West Coast when the Grand Final-bound Dockers coach had served as an assistant during the early 2010s.

Cox also shared an embrace with Freo assistant Jaymie Graham, a former Eagles teammate.

Graham himself endured heartbreak in 2006 when he was dropped for the Grand Final despite missing only one of the Eagles’ other 25 games for the season, watching on as Cox and his teammates secured a thrilling one-point win.

“That’s class, that’s what that is,” former great Dale Thomas said of Cox’s act on Seven.

“A lot is said about how you act, probably more so in defeat than when you do win.

“The way he’s handled himself the past few weeks and especially tonight – well done to Dean Cox, a great leader.”

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