- The former co-captain attacked Zak Butters
- The incident will be reviewed by MRO
- Faces that will be suspended for the grand finale
Sydney’s Dane Rampe faces an anxious wait for the match review official’s verdict after dropping Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters in the first quarter of their preliminary final win.
Rampe decided to crash as he headed towards Butters, raising his arm and seemingly catching the Power Star high above after Butters threw him a quick ball with his hand.
Butters immediately got to his feet, while Powers received a free kick from the floor.
After Sydney’s 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) victory, Rampe told ABC Radio “it wasn’t a big blow” and he was not worried about the possibility of missing the grand final through suspension.
If Rampe is fined a penalty, the Swans will likely take the case to court.
Sydney faces a tough week in terms of selection, regardless of what happens with Rampe.
Captain Callum Mills watched the one-sided clash with Port from the coaching box after being forced to sit out the game with a minor hamstring strain.
Young forward Logan McDonald, who was ruled out of the 2022 grand final, suffered a foot injury on Friday night.
Rampe, who celebrated his 250th game, led the Swans in Mills’ absence.
Former Sydney Swans co-captain Dane Rampe could miss the AFL Grand Final due to this knock
Zak Butters (left) was able to continue playing after the hit, but the MRO will review the incident.
Swans fans will be hoping the veteran defender will be available for the decider at the MCG.
Forward Logan McDonald (two goals) could also be forced out of the decider with an ankle injury after a collision with Miles Bergman in the final period.
Having shaken off the humiliation of their 112-point defeat to the Power last month, the Swans won 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) after a dominant display over four quarters at the SCG on Friday night.
The minor premiers, who received a standing ovation from the 44,053-strong crowd, will play the winners of Saturday’s Geelong-Brisbane preliminary final in the decider at the MCG on September 28.
It is the first time John Longmire’s men have beaten the Power since 2016 and comes after their Round 21 thrashing at Adelaide Oval.
“It’s a great place to live. It’s what you work for,” Longmire said.
‘Today we did our best. Our method was really good.
“We were strong in the competition. We focused on our process, lived in the moment and got the job done.”
Sydney Swans champions Isaac Heeney and Rampe are carried off the field after victory.
Meanwhile, Port coach Ken Hinkley has had to deal with another post-season failure.
Hinkley holds the unwanted record of being the VFL/AFL coach with the most games of coaching without reaching a grand final, having tasted disappointment in three previous preliminary final defeats in 2014, 2020 and 2021.
He has a contract until the end of next season.
“They deserve the win. They deserve to play next week,” Hinkley said.
‘We will accept that they were the best team in the competition and finished at the top of the table for a reason.
“We knew we were going to have to play our best and we weren’t able to match up to them tonight.”