Chad Warner’s Growing Affection for Sydney
West Coast and Fremantle are facing some tough news as Sydney Swans superstar Chad Warner continues to thrive in his current environment. Warner has expressed that he feels more settled than ever in Sydney, which is a significant blow to the two Western Australian clubs hoping to lure him back home.
Last season, both the Eagles and Dockers made strong efforts to secure Warner’s services before he signed a new two-year contract that will keep him with the Swans until the end of 2027. While Fremantle has a star-studded lineup, fitting Warner into their salary cap could be challenging but not impossible. On the other hand, West Coast, which is in the process of rebuilding, has a substantial financial resource at its disposal and is actively trying to convince Warner to join them when he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of 2027.
Sydney’s impressive start to the season has not been beneficial for the Western Australian teams in their pursuit of Warner. The second-placed Swans currently hold a 10-2 record heading into their match against St Kilda at the SCG. Last year, Warner was unsure whether to stay or return to WA, but it seems like he is growing more attached to Sydney.
“I have created relationships with the boys for a long time, and they’re only getting stronger,” Warner said on Wednesday. “I absolutely love coming in every day and I love the morale we have.”
“Having good results each week and winning definitely helps a lot. And to be honest, I’ve actually never felt more settled here.”
Warner has experienced some heartbreak in recent seasons, playing in the 2024 grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions and the 2022 grand final defeat to Geelong. These experiences have become a driving force for him and his teammates.
“I think it’s definitely our biggest driver of the season,” Warner said. “If you can make it and get it done at the end of the year, which is such a tough thing to do, it could make it just that little bit sweeter after the last one.”
A Dominant Attack
The Swans have showcased a powerful four-pronged spearhead attack featuring Charlie Curnow, Hayden McLean, Logan McDonald, and Joel Amartey. This combination proved devastating in their latest match against Richmond, where Curnow kicked eight goals, McLean added four, McDonald scored two, and Amartey managed one.
“I hope it’s scary,” Warner joked when asked about the formidable attack.
Midfielder Isaac Heeney had an outstanding performance with five majors, while Warner contributed three goals as the Swans bounced back from a 27-point loss to the Cats.
Injury Updates
The Swans are hopeful that captain Callum Mills (calf) and Malcolm Rosas Jnr (ankle) will be available for the upcoming match against the Saints. Additionally, in-form ruckman Brodie Grundy is expected to return after being rested in the previous game.
