SYDNEY has turned to veteran defender Dane Rampe to lead its unlikely premiership push with captain Callum Mills sidelined by injury.

A heart-and-soul player who has endured four Grand Final defeats with the Swans, Rampe will captain the club in Friday's preliminary final against Fremantle at the SCG. 

His return to the captaincy comes after being re-drafted as a rookie alongside fellow defender Jake Lloyd at the end of last season. 

While Lloyd has signed on for a 15th season, neither Rampe nor the Swans have decided on his playing future.

However, the door remains open for the former co-captain, with Mills facing the possibility of missing the entire 2027 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

When asked if taking over the captaincy affects how he views his future, Rampe insisted the reassumed role has not changed his perspective.

"To be honest, I haven't had a chance to think about that. I don't think it changes much," he said.

"I'm closer to the end than I am to the start; that's the way I'm looking at it. I'm just grateful for every opportunity I get, whether that's to lead the boys out one last time or two more times. We'll wait and see, but I'm just happy to be where I am at the moment. Having that little bit of hope and belief feels like a real luxury."

Reflecting on stepping back into the role, Rampe shared the mixed emotions of the moment, following a knee injury to Mills in Sydney’s 53-point preliminary final win over Brisbane.

"It's an absolute privilege, and it was for the entire time I did it a couple of years ago," he said. 

"Running out and leading the boys is going to be an absolute pleasure. It is a thrill, it's a privilege, and it's a little bit bittersweet, to be honest. But this is the circumstance that we're dealt, and we just got to keep on keeping on."

It is the second time the 36-year-old has stood in for an injured Mills, having led the Swans in 2024 en route to their decider loss to Brisbane.

Mills' vice-captain Isaac Heeney was among five Swans players banned by the club last month for breaching club standards.

Addressing the club's recent off-field turbulence, Rampe said his teammates have rejected self-pity to unite around Sydney's rich history of resilience.

"It's been an absolute rollercoaster," he said.

"You've got one or two ways you can go in these circumstances: you can have pity meetings and feel sorry for yourself, or you can do something about it, connect with the ones who are still here and all in, and get to work. Our club has been built on that. We've had plenty of down periods and failures, but we've always been able to bounce back."

The decision to select Rampe was made by Mills, coach Dean Cox and club leaders.

"It was a discussion we had as leaders and senior members of the club," Rampe said. 

"I was happy to do whatever the team needed me to do. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't open to passing the baton on, because I feel like I've had my time and opportunity. But the support for me was overwhelming and quite humbling, to be honest."

"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."

Drafted at age 22 in 2013, Rampe was named co-captain alongside 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 an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.

This year was the first time the 29-year-old Mills had played more than 20 games since Sydney's 2022 Grand Final run.

"The overwhelming emotion is probably just gratitude to be back here," Rampe said of again stepping into the role for Mills. 

"A month ago, we weren't sure what was going to happen with the team, the club, and the players. To be here challenging in a prelim, particularly being at the back end of my career, I'm really, really grateful for it."

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 through club suspensions.

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.