'Shattered' Dane Rampe 'had a cry' with Callum Mills after Swans skipper ruled out of grand final
Dane Rampe said he and Callum Mills shared a cry after the Swans skipper was ruled out of Saturday's AFL grand final.
The club on Wednesday made the decision to leave Mills out of the side to take on the Lions after failing to overcome a hamstring strain he picked up in a training session a fortnight ago.
In Mills' absence, Rampe will lead the side in its second grand final appearance in three years – a "bittersweet" honour for the 34-year-old veteran.
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Dane Rampe will lead the Swans in the grand final in Callum Mills' absence. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"First of all, shattered for a mate, one of my great mates, and leaders of our club we've been through a lot together with," Rampe told media on Friday morning ahead of the grand final parade.
"We've had to push that aside, me and him had a cry after the news on Wednesday afternoon. As soon as that was done, and the way Millsy would want it is to move on, business as usual, and that's what it has to be.
"As for my prep, I don't think anything changes. I've been doing what I can in terms of a leadership sense all year and nothing for me changes. I'll be going out and doing what I need to do."
Lachie Neale and Dane Rampe hold aloft the Premiership trophy during AFL grand final parade festivities. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Mills strained his hamstring and missed the Swans' preliminary final win over Port Adelaide. He trained on Wednesday morning, and would later tell reporters he was "feeling good".
Swans coach John Longmire said Mills reacted "as you'd imagine" to the news.
"I probably don't need to describe it. He was disappointed, but that's what happens sometimes," he said.
"When we weighed it all up, the risks going into a game like this just seemed to outweigh and go against Callum in that moment, even though he trained well.
"We had that discussion as a group, made that decision as a group and then we get on with things."
Longmire confirmed Mills had made the trek to Melbourne to support his teammates.
"He's absolutely behind the team, ready to go and that's just the sort of person he is. He's a wonderful person."
