Chad Warner re-signs with Sydney for two years, resisting temptation to return to Western Australia

Chad Warner has revealed how close he came to taking up a big offer to return to his home state of Western Australia before inking a new deal with Sydney.

Chad Warner admits that a week off in Perth during the Swans’ bye round earlier this season was the catalyst for his decision to stay in Sydney for the foreseeable future.

The Swans confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Warner had re-signed with the club for two more years, rejecting the advances of the two Western Australian clubs to remain in the red and white until the end of 2027.

It was a decision that had been up in the air for some time, with the 23-year-old genuinely “50-50” over the past 12 months as he weighed up his desire to return home to Perth and stay with his good mates at the Swans.

But as his form wavered over the past fortnight and he found the beauty of Sydney yet again, he realised that remaining at the Swans was best for him.

Chad Warner is staying in Sydney.

“Along the whole way, as I’ve said the whole time, I was pretty 50-50 to be honest,” Warner said.

“Then when we went back, played Freo and I had about a week there in Perth, I think when I came back here, that was the moment.

“I came back and told the club that I wanted to go ahead with it and start working on it with them. From there, it took a little while, but we got there in the end.

“Before that, I was probably leaning this way, but I think that game, and then being back in Perth and coming back here, really cemented it.

“There was a big part of me that did want to go back. But then I think the part of me that wanted to stay here was even bigger. That overweighed in the end, and I’m very excited and happy about my decision.”

While Warner didn’t divulge any of the information about the conversations he had with either Fremantle or West Coast about his future, he admits the Western Australian clubs did give him plenty to consider about returning home.

However, he made clear on Thursday afternoon that his belief in what the Swans can achieve on the field is far stronger than any other club in the AFL.

Chad Warner with an absolute thumper from outside 50 😍#AFLFreoSwanspic.twitter.com/AAiFOKA1db

— AFL (@AFL) May 10, 2024

Having lost two grand finals in the past three seasons, it’s clear that Warner wants to help atone for those defeats. Premierships are the ultimate goal for any footballer, and he believes he can achieve that in Sydney.

But the fact that the wider group is also recommitted to the project, with high-profile Swans like Errol Gulden taking less money to stay at the club last season, gave him enough reason to buy-in again.

“Yeah, I think this team can achieve more than any other team in the comp can to be honest,” Warner said.

“I’ve (got) so much confidence in us and I think to be honest, the list and how good our list is is probably a big reason I did sign here too.

“I think we have some of the best culture and probably the best team in the comp to be honest, and when we’re firing, I think we can do anything.

“To be able to have that many players sign shows how much the boys want to be with each other. It also shows what the higher end of the club, the CEOS and coaches, how much we value them too because we wouldn’t be here if they didn’t like the people above them.

“(My teammates) were real supportive. No one tried to push you one way or the other. At the end of the day, they wanted me to do what was best for me and this is what’s best for me.”

Gulden was one of the first people to celebrate Warner’s new contract, quickly hopping on FaceTime to pass on his congratulations – “He was very proud, I think I’m so proud of where both of us are too in our careers,” Warner said.

The Dockers and Eagles had been circling Warner, but will have to wait.

It is somewhat of a risk for the Swans, signing a short-term deal in the hopes they can convince Warner to sign a longer contract in the future. But they believe they’re a better team with him in the side, and their results over the past two years suggest they’re right.

He’s also shown his passion for the guernsey, celebrating vigorously at Optus Stadium in front of Fremantle fans during their win earlier in the season.

While Warner wouldn’t rule out a return to WA in 2028 when he gets through to free agency, he knows he can now focus on his football, which he concedes has dropped off in the past two weeks.

It is a credit to the Swans that they’ve convinced Warner to stay. It was a drawn out process that saw West Coast roll out the welcome mat with rounds of golf and Fremantle making no secret of their interest.

But Warner believes the best place for him to continue to develop his game, his life – and also his handicap – is in Sydney.

“I wouldn’t mind playing (golf) again here because (Coxy) actually beat me last time,” Warner joked.

“(It’s) just how great Sydney is, to be honest. I’ve really settled here well, my partner’s settled here well … that has allowed me to want to stay for another two years.

“(We’ll) see what happens after that. You could get to that point and something else might happen. For now, two years is definitely what I’m happy to do. I’ll probably get to that point and you never know, it might happen again.

“Having two years gives you a great amount of time to know where you’re going to be. It gives you enough time to develop more as a footballer … and what you want to do in the future too.

“I think I used the contract as a massive motivator at the start of the season. And coming back from Perth, not having as much noise and deciding what I wanted to do, I think maybe the last couple of games has affected me in that way, not having the motivation as much.

“But I think now it’s good we can put that to bed and I guess just play for you and win from here.”