Sydney veteran Dane Rampe is “quietly confident” star teammate Will Hayward will recommit to the AFL premiership favourites, regardless of robust curiosity from rival golf equipment.
South Australian product Hayward is a restricted free agent and has reportedly attracted enormous affords from Carlton, Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
But the Swans are rising extra optimistic the 25-year-old will keep put within the Harbour City.
Hayward has been instrumental within the ladder-leading Swans’ surge into flag favouritism, contributing a team-high 20 targets of their 9-1 begin.
“I’m quietly confident,” Rampe informed reporters forward of the Swans’ conflict with the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night time.
“It’s been a credit to him the way he’s handled the last couple of weeks.
“I can solely think about how robust it’s popping out of contract and you have got affords coming at you left, proper and centre.
“But we are quietly optimistic, although it’s been made clear to me it’s not done yet.”
While Hayward is ready to play a key position in Sydney’s conflict with the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, veteran midfielder Luke Parker will once more be watching from the sidelines.
Parker, who performed 4 VFL matches on return from a damaged arm this yr, was hit with a six-match ban this week over the heavy bump that left Frankston’s Josh Smith with facial accidents.
The Swans are interesting the size of the suspension.
“I’m respectful of the Frankston player who’s obviously injured, but on a personal level I’m just feeling for a mate at the moment who’s had a tough start to the year,” Rampe mentioned.
“He’s flat, but he’s been unbelievably stoic in all of this and he knows that his time will come.
“We’re all assured of that and we’re all excited to get him again within the staff when he does come again in.”
Sydney (9-1) have won six straight games by an average margin of almost eight goals leading into the Bulldogs clash, which is their last outing before the mid-season bye.
“We wish to actually add an exclamation mark on the final six weeks, after which we’ll reassess after the weekend,” Rampe said.
The unpredictable Bulldogs (5-5) have seemingly turned a corner over the past fortnight, registering convincing wins over Richmond and finals hopefuls GWS.
Sydney have made only one pressured change, naming Matt Roberts as a alternative for Robbie Fox (AC joint), whereas the Bulldogs recalled Anthony Scott rather than dropped defender Luke Cleary.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
