“Absolutely invested”: Swans firm on Warner as Harley comments on Stringer and Parker

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley is confident that Chad Warner is completely invested in the club.

Recent reports have suggested that the 23-year-old intends on returning to Western Australia at the end of next year when his Swans contract expires.

Harley insists that the club loves Warner and is keen to lock him away for the future, and feels that the 85-gamer will be eager to remain in the Harbour City.

“He’s a seriously, seriously good and game-changing player,” Harley said on SEN Mornings.

“He’s a big part of our scoring profile with his ability to hit the scoreboard as a midfielder and have goal assists.

“He’s clearly a very important piece of our future going forward. He is contracted for next year, so that’s the positive part.

“He’ll be playing for us next year and we will, as we have already done, work with him, his family and his management on what the future looks like beyond next year.

“We would love him in red and white for the rest of his career. Chad is a fierce competitor and he is absolutely invested in our footy club, he’s invested in the city, he’s got great relationships with people who are close to the club outside of the staff and the coaches.

“We’ll be doing everything we possibly can to help him see that his future is at our club.”

Harley was also asked about Sydney’s reported interest in Essendon’s Jake Stringer, but ruled out any possible move for the 30-year-old.

“No, it won’t be Jake Stringer,” Harley said.

“Our focus has clearly been on retention of the players that we had out of contract going into the start of the year. I think we’ve done an extraordinary job to secure that.

“We will look at ways to get better, clearly, through trades and free agency, but I wouldn’t have thought that (Stringer) would be one of them.”

Swans veteran Luke Parker is set to depart the club in the wake of the disappointing 2024 Grand Final loss after requesting a trade to North Melbourne.

Harley alluded to the fact that Parker could be getting a multi-year deal with the Kangaroos which perhaps the Swans might not have been able to offer.

“In this case it is mutual,” said Harley

“It’s a really good opportunity for Luke. It’s a three-year opportunity at North Melbourne.

“He’s contracted with us so we have to work through that with North given Luke’s made the request.

“These are list decisions. Luke’s clearly part of the decision making process and he’s made a decision, then the list management team makes a decision as what’s best for our list by taking into consideration all different factors.

“Luke is a champion of our footy club. I can’t underestimate or understate that. His relationship with John (Longmire) is extraordinary.

“This can happen and we saw it with Luke Hodge at Hawthorn to Brisbane, we saw it with Jordan Lewis form Hawthorn to Melbourne, we saw it with Sam Mitchell at West Coast.

“As Luke said to me, these things will probably happen more and more. We need to make it work for us but we’re certainly understanding of Luke’s position.”

Former co-captain Parker played 293 games for the Swans, winning the 2012 premiership and three Bob Skilton Medals.

Listen to the full chat with Harley below: