Deal avoids trade talk ramping up

SYDNEY defender Dane Rampe has extended his contract until 2022 to avoid conjecture about his future next season.

The rookie success story has become one of the AFL’s most reliable defenders despite playing undersized on many of the league’s key forwards.

He said yesterday he was happy to sign on for three more seasons when the Swans handed his management a contract offer nearly 12 months from his contract expiring.

“It came together pretty easily, the club approached me a little bit earlier than I would have thought but I’m obviously rapt,” he told Sydney’s website.

“I’m really excited about the group we have and obviously being a local boy I didn’t want to go anywhere and I think the club knew that as well so that probably helped them from their end.’’

Rampe said the new faces had reinvigorated preseason.

“I guess that’s part of the excitement,’’ Rampe said. “We’ve turned over a quarter of our list, which is the probably the biggest turnover since my first year in 2013.’’

Rampe has been working with new backline coach Tadhg Kennelly.