The 2019 draft will go down as one of the best in recent memory from a West Australian perspective.
Of the 19 youngsters drafted out of the WAFL pathway, not many would have predicted that the draft gem would be Aquinas College’s Chad Warner.
Taken with pick No.39 by Sydney and the eighth West Australian selected, Warner is now looming as the steal of the draft with the powerful midfielder likely to command in excess of $1m next year when he comes out of contract with both WA clubs chasing his signature.
And he could add to his already glowing reputation with a match-winning performance in Saturday’s grand final between Sydney and Brisbane at the MCG.
Warner has already proved he’s a big game player, having been one of the few stars for the Swans in their disappointing 2022 grand final loss to Geelong.
In only his 39th match, Warner kicked two goals from 29 disposals and 10 clearances as well as laid six tackles in a performance that defied the 81-point margin in favour of the Cats.
Fast forward to this weekend and Warner is an established star of the competition and part of the dangerous midfield trifecta alongside Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden.
Draft expert Mick Ablett said he never expected Warner to become the player he was after five years in the system.
“He’s on the cusp of earning himself a contract in the vicinity of probably $1.2 to $1.5m a year which puts him in rare company in terms of players across the competition,” Ablett said on the East Fremantle-product.
“To be taken at pick No.39 and then put yourself within the top few percent of earners in the competition, I think it speaks for itself.
“I’m the first one to admit I thought he was an honest contested, inside midfielder and I’m the first one to put my hand up in that he has surprised me the level he has got to with his football.
“He was a very good underage player, he’s now a star of the competition. It’s one for me to look back on and they’re the ones you learn a lot from.”
It’s easy to see why Warner got lost in the shuffle when you look at his Western Australian teammates. Luke Jackson was the standout and was swooped on by Melbourne with pick No.3.
Deven Roberston captained WA to an under-18 title and was the Larke medallist, with Brisbane so desperate to get him they did a trade with Port Adelaide after the first night of the draft.
And then there was Liam Henry (Fremantle), Mitch Georgiades (Port Adelaide), Jeremy Sharp (Gold Coast), Elijah Taylor (Sydney) and Trent Rivers (Melbourne) who were all stars.
Warner has arguably leapt all of those players, averaging 24 disposals this season as well as five inside 50s and four clearances.
Forward of centre is where the 23-year-old is at his most dangerous, kicking an incredible 34 goals in 24 games, including multiple goals in 11 games.
Ablett said Warner’s ability to improve his outside game had helped him transition into one of the best from that year’s draft.
“It’s his speed. His speed particularly in his first 5m has improved out of sight,” Ablett said.
“His outside game has taken what he can do to a completely new level and he’s in that rare class of midfielders who regularly hit the scoreboard.
“Goalkicking midfielders are like absolute gold and that’s what clubs look for in the draft and he is one of those. He’s damaging, not only does he find a lot of the footy but he hurts you when he’s got it.”
Earlier this week, Warner opened up on what he’d learnt from his previous grand final experience two years ago.
“With our preparation and going into the games, you’ve just got to realise that grand finals are different beasts and players from opposition teams are a lot hungrier and a lot more fierce than in the regular season,” Warner said.
“It’s going back to basics like we have this year when we were playing not too good footy this year.
“Obviously Saturday is going to be a lot harder than saying those words, but if we can do that then we’ll be right.
“We’ve got a lot more experience (than in 2022) and a lot of boys have played a lot of footy together now which obviously helps us. We’re a very close group and everyone’s great friends and I think the experience factor, a lot more games played can hold us in good stead from there.”
Warner admitted he enjoyed pushing the boundaries out on the footy field to get the best out of him.
“It’s natural to me, I like to push the boundaries a little bit when I play,” he said.
“The boys around me help so much with that and the club as well, they allow me to make mistakes and move on from those mistakes.
“You just realise it’s all part of learning and it’s all part of life, so that’s where it comes from.”
While there will be a lot of joy in the Warner family there is also a bit of heartbreak, with Chad’s younger brother and Swans teammate Corey missing out after playing six games this year and being dropped from the finals.
And his other brothers Aston (17) and Troy (15) will be likely watching from the stands.
Chad Warner said he’d love to see them play for Sydney alongside him one day.
“I’ve been talking to them (Sydney’s recruiting team) a little bit about it, so hopefully they can get something done there,” Warner said.
“Without having to pump them up too much, I think they are going to be better (players), to be honest, so I’ll have to look out for them.”
