Chad Warner’s post-game celebrations a good sign for future at Sydney
Chad Warner’s future might still be up in the air, but his actions after Sydney’s win over Fremantle showed why the Swans remain confident that their superstar will stick around.
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It’s the picture that could write a thousand words: Swans superstar Chad Warner tugging passionately at his guernsey after his side came away with a gutsy win over Fremantle in his hometown.
The narrative writes itself beautifully already. But given the speculation about his contract future and the potential for his next career move to be in Perth, the significance is greater.
To say Warner was up for this match would be an understatement. The 23-year-old got a fresh haircut for the occasion and had his family join him and brother Corey for the Swans’ captain’s run on Saturday.
But he didn’t just look the part. He finished the match with a game-high 10 score involvements and 727 metres gained. He won the free kick that cemented the game for the Swans and made sure to let Fremantle’s high-profile recruit, Shai Bolton, know all about it.
This was a man ready to win at all costs and get his team over the line.
“I think he’s a passionate person,” Swans coach Dean Cox said post-game. “He’s passionate about the footy club.
“I want to make sure that first of all, Chad plays his best footy for the football club and he enjoys his time whilst he’s here. Hopefully, that is for longer, I’ve said that all the way through.
“You want to keep your best players and Chad’s one of those. So, that’s a process we continually work through. But he loves his time at the footy club and loves playing with his teammates.”
Warner and Cox share a great personal relationship. Before becoming head coach, Cox worked extensively with the Swans midfield group and was a big reason for their success last season which saw three players, including Warner, named in the All-Australian squad.
But it’s also hard not to read into how the pair celebrated in the rooms on Sunday afternoon. Not only was it Cox’s first win as a head coach, but it was a victory that might have cemented to Warner what he’s a part of in Sydney.
The pair’s embrace was filled with more passion than most at the very same time that the two Western Australian teams that are jostling for Warner’s services languish at the bottom of the ladder.
In the past month, Sydney has seemingly emerged as the favourite for Warner’s immediate services.
While the Swans would love to lock him up on a long-term deal, a two-year offer worth more than $1.3m a year has got them right in the mix. And despite the golf trips and restaurant visits in Perth, the Sydney lifestyle and his Swans teammates remain a massive selling point.
The Swans have also given him the room to choose at his own pace, they respect his mind isn’t made up.
“At the end of the day, he’s got a big decision to make,” Dane Rampe said last week. “From my point of view, we welcome that, take his time. We just want Chaddy to be happy.”
And in the latest microscopic instalment of will or won’t Chad Warner stay at the Swans, it would appear his new pad is available to rent and has been for a few weeks now. Handy pocket money for the next 6 months or the next two years 😂 pic.twitter.com/EaDnKRy7JH
— Eliza Reilly (@ByElizaReilly) March 24, 2025
Importantly, it’s not impacting his output either. He has spent more time in the forward line in 2025, and although he has seen less of the ball, he has still had two of the top 20 performances for damage in his career in the past fortnight.
Warner’s quality as a player means his future will constantly be in the headlines. But while the needle might be swinging Sydney’s way, his actions against Fremantle highlight a player who will do anything to win in the red and white.
The Swans will be hoping those scenes will continue until at least the end of 2027.
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Originally published as Chad Warner’s post-game celebrations a good sign for future at Sydney
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