Chad Warner appeared in a press conference on Thursday, April 24 after it was confirmed he recommitted to the Sydney Swans on a two-year contract extension. Hear from the star midfielder as he discusses his decision to remain in the harbour city.
On considering moving home to WA
"Think as like anyone going through this process, they'd always have that pull and there was a big part of me that kind of did want to go back, but then I think the part of me that wanted to stay here was even bigger and I think that overweighed in the end and I'm very excited and happy about my decision."
On if there was a moment he decided to stay in Sydney
"I've always said the whole time, I was pretty 50-50, to be honest, and then when we kind of 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 want to go ahead with it and start working on it with them and yeah, I think from there, it took a little while, but we got there in the end."
On telling Errol
"I told Errol first and he gave me a nice FaceTime - he was very proud. I think I'm so proud of, I guess, where both of us are too as well in our careers and to be able to have such a great friendship, that's something I'll hold forever to."
On staying in Sydney with his brother
"Yeah, it's great, I mean, to have something so rare happen and to both be so valued at a club is such a special thing. I think mum and dad are pretty happy about it too, to be together and, yeah, hopefully a few more pre-season fights to come."
On what he likes about Sydney off the field
"It's great, just the lifestyle, to be honest, I think the beaches, obviously, the weather. I think having a lot of nice restaurants here that you can go and try out, I think all of us boys love doing that a fair bit too and the golf courses, that's probably the main thing, a lot better golf courses over here as well."
On what the re-signing of key players says about the club's culture
"I think to be able to have that many players sign shows how much, I guess, the boys want to be with each other and I think it shows what the higher end of the club, the CEOs, the coaches, it shows how much, I guess, we value them too because, I think, at the end of the day, everyone wouldn't want to be here if they didn't like the people above them. I think it just goes to show how every aspect of the club, like I said, up there, physios, even media, everyone, I think it shows how much everyone wants to be a part of it."
On the support of his teammates
"They were just real supportive, everyone was really supportive of the situation I was in and, I guess, the options that I had and no one kind of ever tried to push you one way or the other. They were always just there to have a chat, always there if I needed help and, at the end of the day, they wanted me to do what was best for me and this is what's best for me."
