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Shayne Hope

Swans' Parker relieved over AFL tribunal's Rampe call

Sydney are glad key defender Dane Rampe's two-game ban for making accidental contact was thrown out. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Sydney veteran Luke Parker says there is still scope for some AFL collisions to be deemed accidental after teammate Dane Rampe successfully challenged his rough conduct charge.

Rampe had a two-match suspension over an off-the-ball collision with Western Bulldogs midfielder Lachlan McNeil thrown out by the tribunal on Tuesday night.

Players are widely supportive of the league's attempts to protect their heads but Parker is relieved not all high contact in the high-speed game will be blamed on those involved.

"I was fully supportive of what Dane was trying to do in that moment and it was just one of those football accidents," Parker told reporters on Wednesday.

"I'm glad that he got off because we don't want to go too far. Accidents can happen in football.

"He was just trying to do his job and he was able to argue that."

Rampe argued the contact with McNeil was nothing more than a "football incident", declaring he hadn't deviated from his running line and that the Bulldogs player had initiated the contact.

The tribunal agreed and dismissed the ban, leaving Rampe free to play in the Swans' crunch clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

"He's so crucial to us week to week and for him to get off is fantastic for us," Parker said.

"So he's looking forward to coming over to Perth and having a good game.

"He's a leader of our club and has been champion player for a long time, so it's really important to have our best players out there at this time of year."

Sydney (30 points) and Fremantle (28) are both still just within reach of the top eight but can ill-afford further slip-ups, with just six rounds left to play.

"It will come down to the final rounds to grab those final couple of spots," Parker said.

"We know Fremantle are going to be desperate - they're coming off a couple of losses - and we've been in and out of form.

"We're looking forward to getting over there against a pretty hostile crowd."

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