Player Watch #1 GigaChad Warner

[Kennedy Parker]

Chad Warner
When the Sydney Swans swept up Chad Warner

1

Chad Warner

Age

22

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

4star

CL

0.0

1star

with pick 39 at the 2019 AFL Draft, they secured a youngster with an insatiable appetite for the contest. Warner attacks the ball and opponents with aggression and is relishing calling midfield bulls Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

31

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

his teammates at the Swans. Warner impressed for Western Australia in the 2019 AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 18.2 touches (50 per cent contested), 3.2 clearances and 6.8 tackles per game. He also tallied an average of 27.1 disposals, 6.4 clearances and 7.4 tackles per match at Colts level for East Fremantle in 2019. He earned his AFL debut against Richmond in Round 6 of the 2020 season, recording eight disposals and two tackles.

Chad Warner

1

Chad Warner

Age

22

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

4star

CL

0.0

1star

DOB: 19 May 2001
DEBUT: 2020
DRAFT: #39, 2019 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Willetton (WA)/Aquinas College (WA)/East Fremantle (WAFL)

Chad Warner | AFL

Follow Chad Warner's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Callipygian]

Chad is such a competitor that showing him that list would only goad him.

On the other hand, it says so much about how incredible Harley Reid is.

 

[The King!]

Chad is such a competitor that showing him that list would only goad him.

On the other hand, it says so much about how incredible Harley Reid is.

Reid is such a big body already.

It's a tough one with Chad as others have said , he breaks lines, takes it on and you have to wear the errors at times .

 

[S120]

Reid is such a big body already.

It's a tough one with Chad as others have said , he breaks lines, takes it on and you have to wear the errors at times .

If I had my way, based purely on what I've seen with Chad and no personal knowledge, I'd be exploring how he stays active in the game when things aren't going his way. There are times where it seems like he seems to hold his mistakes with him during the game and gets down on himself but in a way it seems to spur him to try even harder to break tackles and burst away when it might just be an off day.

I'd be showing him that smother from the Richmond game that got us going in the 4th quarter and encourage that if it's not working you don't have to make something happen with the ball with sheer force of will. Use sheer force of will to chase and tackle and smother and focus your attention there rather than get down on yourself and force yourself with the ball to be dominant because that doesn't seem to work that well for many.

I have no doubt he'll work through it and be fine, but it's something I'd be getting him to think more actively about, the defensive side that he could be really effective with given his dynamic athleticism and pace to focus on trying to harass, smother, tackle when it isn't working with the ball.

 

[liz]

Something I noticed with Chad over the first three games in particular was that, while he was trying to break through tackles, he was also keeping his arms free and actively looking for a constructive handball. It actually looked like something the whole team had worked on over the preseason, but it was particularly noticeable with him because he tries to break tackles more often.

In past seasons it seemed like his sole focus was to break the tackle and keep on running, so to be thinking of disposing in a way that keeps the ball in the team’s possession, at the same time as trying to bust through, adds another weapon to his arsenal.

 

[ashep]

Something I noticed with Chad over the first three games in particular was that, while he was trying to break through tackles, he was also keeping his arms free and actively looking for a constructive handball. It actually looked like something the whole team had worked on over the preseason, but it was particularly noticeable with him because he tries to break tackles more often.

In past seasons it seemed like his sole focus was to break the tackle and keep on running, so to be thinking of disposing in a way that keeps the ball in the team’s possession, at the same time as trying to bust through, adds another weapon to his arsenal.

Good pickup.

His instinct is still to take the tackler on but he's not just tucking the ball under his wing.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Have you noticed how the umps never give him a break. All that backchat probs has something to do with it.

 

[The King!]

Noticed a couple of times he started in the goal square yesterday if i saw correctly on tv?

Thought he had a few speed bursts away and played quite well. However The suns youth didn't really ask any defensive questions.

His break away speed though is so important

 

[Nuggetz]

I thought he had one of his best defensive games. If he can build upon his tackling & defensive side then he'll elevate to another level. He's also playing more in the fwd 50 & he looks dangerous in that area. There's a presence about him in the fwd 50 which would worry opposition defenders. Great signs & I think he's about to elevate his game.

 

[The King!]

Without checking a single stat I feel he plays well at the MCG

 

[Kiama Chris]

I thought he had one of his best defensive games. If he can build upon his tackling & defensive side then he'll elevate to another level. He's also playing more in the fwd 50 & he looks dangerous in that area. There's a presence about him in the fwd 50 which would worry opposition defenders. Great signs & I think he's about to elevate his game.

Both Warner and Gulden are carrying less load with what Heeney, Rowbottom, McInerney and JJ are bringing. Much more even than late last year which sounds funny given what Heeney is doing but IMO it is.

 

[Dan87]

He's a seriously good player

Unique agility/power combo

Colossal ankle breakers

 

[Punts]

No many that can break away from congestion with speed in the afl and he is one

Stringer and danger ( Harley Reid to lol )

Massive asset

 

[Jeffers]

Imagine if was 5-7cm taller? He would be getting comparisons to Dusty.

Anyways another good goal kicking midfielder for us. Has 9 goals already and only 2 behind Paps.

 

[Superstar swan]

If a mid gets around the 20 goal mark for the season, that is elite. Chad should easily get there

 

[Citrus22]

Was our highest tackling player and equal leading clearance getter on the weekend, feel like he took a bit of inspiration from Rowy and I'd like more of it!

 

[rustycrate]

He's a seriously good player

Unique agility/power combo

Colossal ankle breakers

I love his kick. No other player kicks like him. It looks like just a stab at the ball but it can go a long way. A very unique kicking style. Even long kicks seem like just a stab. No follow through. Yet they travel a long way.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

He has definitely lifted his defensive work rate this year. No doubt he would have received feedback after 2023 that he needs to work harder defensively and he's managed to improve in that department.

The benefit to his game, compared to 2023, is that when he's not having a great attacking game, he can contribute defensively and still have an impact. The added benefit to both the team and himself is that his defensive efforts are also leading to opportunities to attack.

Part of the reason he didn't have a great 2023 was his inability (or reluctance) to contribute more defensively, so when the opposition restricted his attacking game, he had very little influence in the overall result.

 

[J_Moore]

I love his kick. No other player kicks like him. It looks like just a stab at the ball but it can go a long way. A very unique kicking style. Even long kicks seem like just a stab. No follow through. Yet they travel a long way.

Everything about what the guy does physically is weird. Not an especially powerfully built guy. Wasn’t even particularly fast in his first year.

Doesn’t look like he should be able to do most of the stuff he does.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Everything about what the guy does physically is weird. Not an especially powerfully built guy. Wasn’t even particularly fast in his first year.

Doesn’t look like he should be able to do most of the stuff he does.

I believe at least the first couple of off seasons he did significant extras at home in WA especially in the gym. One was dragging weight to increase power in his hips and that really showed in his second year. Like Errol he is never satisfied. I am full of admiration for what these kids do.

 

[liz]

Imagine if was 5-7cm taller? He would be getting comparisons to Dusty.

Anyways another good goal kicking midfielder for us. Has 9 goals already and only 2 behind Paps.

He's listed at 185cm, which is only two cm shorter than Martin's listed height.

He was listed only at around 181cm when drafted but he had a bit of a growth spurt. And I suspect it was mostly in his legs, which might help explain how he's developed more power in his legs.

 

[Kiama Chris]

He's listed at 185cm, which is only two cm shorter than Martin's listed height.

He was listed only at around 181cm when drafted but he had a bit of a growth spurt. And I suspect it was mostly in his legs, which might help explain how he's developed more power in his legs.

More importantly perhaps, Dusty is listed at 93kg compared to Chad's 82kg. Chad is a lot slimmer.

 

[J_Moore]

I believe at least the first couple of off seasons he did significant extras at home in WA especially in the gym. One was dragging weight to increase power in his hips and that really showed in his second year. Like Errol he is never satisfied. I am full of admiration for what these kids do.

tbh I’m not going to ask too many questions about what off-season gym extras might have contributed to a sudden and surprising increase in power and speed

 

[liz]

More importantly perhaps, Dusty is listed at 93kg compared to Chad's 82kg. Chad is a lot slimmer.

Slimmer, and becoming slimmer all the time. I reckon he shed a few kilos over the off-season. Or maybe reduced his skinfolds (we're not allowed to refer to "fat") and replaced it with muscle. He's certainly looking very wiry at the moment.

 

[Dan87]

He's just full of fast twitch fibre and tenacity

With a finish

Love his movement

 

[Crust]

He's just full of fast twitch fibre and tenacity

With a finish

Love his movement

There's a poster here who likes fast twitch fibres.