Sports · Other Sports · 1 hr ago
Dane Rampe retires from AFL after 289 games with Sydney
Dane Rampe has retired from Australian rules football after 14 seasons with the Sydney Swans.
The 36-year-old defender played 289 games for Sydney, the seventh-most in the club’s history.
He was drafted as a rookie in 2012, made his debut in 2013 and later shared the captaincy.
Rampe won the club’s best-and-fairest award in 2019 and was named an All-Australian in 2016.
His final match was Sydney’s preliminary final loss to Fremantle in 2026, after he returned to lead the side during the finals.
He played in four Swans grand-final defeats and never won a premiership.
Rampe said he was proud and grateful for his career, and plans to thank the club’s players, staff and fans in the coming months.
Dane Rampe has retired from AFL football after playing 289 games for the Sydney Swans.
The 36-year-old defender announced his decision after captaining Sydney in its preliminary final loss to Fremantle.
Rampe played his final match in the 2026 finals series, which was his 25th finals appearance.
He was a co-captain from 2019 to 2023 and won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2019.
His honours also include All-Australian selection in 2016, while he played in four losing grand finals.
- Who
- Dane Rampe, a former Sydney Swans co-captain and defender.
- What
- He has retired from AFL football after 289 games.
- When
- The announcement was reported on October 29 and 30, 2026.
- Where
- Sydney, Australia; Rampe played for the Sydney Swans.
- Why
- He said he had nothing left to give and cited pride and gratitude. He said the relationships he formed were his most meaningful achievement.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sydney drafted Rampe as a rookie at age 22.
Rampe made his AFL debut in round one.
Rampe became co-captain and won the Bob Skilton Medal.
Rampe played in Sydney’s preliminary final against Fremantle, his final match.
Reports said Rampe had announced his retirement.
- Career games
- 289
- Age at retirement
- 36
- Finals appearances
- 25
- AFL debut
- Round one, 2013
- All-Australian
- 2016
- Bob Skilton Medal
- 2019
3 sources
What people are saying
This has been an incredibly hard decision to make.
I simply have nothing left to give.
I share this not from a place of exhaustion or defeat, but from one of overwhelming pride and gratitude.
Ultimately, it is the people and the relationships I have forged that I cherish the most.