Chad Warner photo after Sydney Swans win over Fremantle, will superstar midfielder stay?

Chad Warner says no Fremantle players have reached out in a bid to persuade him to join the WA club as the Sydney superstar produced his latest eye-catching AFL display, which included a potentially significant celebration.

After two close losses to quality opponents, the Swans on Sunday triumphed for the first time in 2025, holding on for a thrilling three-point win against Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Warner played a crucial role in the victory, finishing as the No. 1 rated player on the field. He booted 1.2 from 26 disposals, 10 score involvements, 10 contested possessions, 10 inside 50s, nine marks, four clearances and 727m gained.

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The 24-year-old, at this stage, looms as one of the big AFL trade stories of the season, with the star midfielder uncontracted beyond 2025 and attracting significant interest from both the Eagles and Dockers, who are both reportedly keen to lure him back to his home state of WA.

Speaking in the Swans’ rooms post-game, Warner said no Fremantle players had gone out of their way to lure him to Cockburn.

“They haven’t at all, to be honest,” Warner told The West Australian. “They keep to themselves … They want to win games just as much as I do.

“There’s no place for that talk anyway.”

As the final siren sounded on Sunday night, Warner passionately grabbed his Swans jumper – a moment that was superbly captured by Getty Images photographer Daniel Carson.

Chad Warner of the Swans grabs his jumper on the final siren. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images Source: Getty Images

And it raised the eyebrow of Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark.

“Did you see this little moment? A photo captured after the game,” Clark said on Fox Footy’s First Crack while pointing out Catson’s snap.

“Chad Warner is one of the biggest talking points in the game whether he’ll stay in Sydney. Look at that – the tug of the jumper. Do we read anything into that? … I’m reading into it!

“That’s an interesting watch for me. You don’t grab your jumper passionately like that for no reason … I’m saying that to me looks like a man who is dedicated and passionate about staying. West Coast and Fremantle can dangle the big bucks, but I look at that and think ‘he’s happy in the Harbour City’.”

Fellow First Crack panellist Leigh Montagna suggested Sydney’s win “might’ve been significant for a number of reasons”.

Clark responded by pointing to recent comments from St Kilda coach Ross Lyon.

“Ross Lyon said this: To attract the free agents and the big names, you need wins on the board early. So that is significant,” Clark said.

Warner also celebrated the win with great joy post-game with Cox, who said Warner played a “phenomenal” game and that the club’s desire to retain the midfielder was “a process we continually work through”.

THRILLING end to Swans first win | 01:08

“He’s a passionate person. He’s passionate about the footy club,” Cox told reporters.

“I want to make sure, first of all, Chad plays his best footy for this football club and he enjoys his time whilst he is here. Hopefully, that is for longer. I’ve said that all the way through.

“You want to keep your best players and Chad is one of those. That’s a process we continually work through, but he is passionate. He loves his time at the footy club and loves playing with his teammates.”

Warner was particularly influential in the frantic fourth quarter with 10 disposals and five marks, while his goal cut Fremantle’s lead to four points.

He was one of several Swans players who showed great composure with ball in-hand.

Dual premiership Kangaroo David King pointed out that while Fremantle failed to capitalise on their opportunities late, the Swans did through the likes of good decision-making and execution from the likes of Warner, Isaac Heeney and second-gamer Riley Bice.

“In the end it’s just a bit of composure that separates these two teams,” King told First Crack.

Chad Warner celebrates the win. Source: Getty Images

King also lauded the performance of Swan Tom McCartin, who returned to the backline in the absence of Lewis Melican and had an engrossing battle with Fremantle forward Josh Treacy.

McCartin finished with 15 disposals, nine intercepts (four intercept marks) and six spoils, while Treacy booted 4.2 from 13 disposals and seven marks.

“It was Treacy versus Sydney for a long period of time,” King said.

“The match-up on McCartin was just fascinating. Tom had some good moments as well … And you know what? He’s a full-back. How about we just leave him there for the rest of the year and stop stuffing around with Tom? Because he had moments where I reckon if he’d started the season at full-back, he would’ve been more comfortable. But we’re arguing over spilt milk.

“He (Cox) wouldn’t have moved him out (of full-forward) if Melican was there, I’m convinced.”

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