Sydney coach Dean Cox has said he doesn't know yet what the future holds for stand-in skipper Dane Rampe after the club's heartbreaking Preliminary Final loss to Fremantle.

The 36-year-old Rampe was seen visibly emotional after the Swans' 12-point loss on Friday night, before waving to fans as he walked off the field.

After captain Callum Mills injured his ACL in the Qualifying Final against Brisbane, veteran Rampe stood up to lead Sydney in its Preliminary Final. Speaking after the match, Cox said as a champion of the club, Rampe has the right to be in control of his future.

"He has earned the right to say if he wants to play on or if he doesn't and we just have those conversations from there," Cox said in the post-game press conference.

"I can't speak highly enough about what Dane does and has done for our football club ever since he has been here. He is a club favourite, he is a fan favourite.

"I think the way he goes about his football, the way he prepares, his emotional intelligence is as high as I have seen. That's why the decision for him to (captain) was quite an easy one. He leads really strongly and unfortunately we couldn't get it done for him.

"I haven't spoken to Dane about the possibilities for next year. I think what he has earned is the right to get through this year as much as he possibly can and like every player we will have discussions in the coming weeks about what the future looks like and that will happen for Dane."

The mid-sized veteran defender was taken as a mature age recruit at 22. Since then, Rampe has forged his way as a stoic stopper for the Swans, playing 289 games while earning a best-and-fairest (2019) and an All-Australian blazer (2016).

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One controversial moment from a thrilling Preliminary Final was the non-call on a contact below the knees incident on Sydney small forward Tom Papley.

The 30-year-old Swan had his legs taken out by Fremantle defender Karl Worner as both players went for the ball. However, a free kick was not called while Papley went off the ground for treatment on his leg.

Cox said although free kicks are missed or given in any game, protecting players' legs from injury should be sacrosanct.

"(Papley's) a little bit sore. He had to come from the ground and have his knee strapped and looked at," he said.

"But there are always instances in footy where you go, 'Did we miss that? Were we lucky here?'

"One thing we should always try and do is protect the player that's going for the ball. Taking someone's legs out isn't something that you like to see but they are just decisions that are made on the move."

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