Sydney are ready to fight to keep in-demand midfielder Chad Warner beyond next season, with West Australian clubs preparing to strike.
Warner is out of contract at the end of next year and has been strongly linked to a move home to Perth, with Fremantle best-placed to get a deal done.
But Swans chief executive Tom Harley has ruled out a trade happening in next week’s player movement period.
And the grand finals losers are ready to “do everything that we possibly can” to convince Warner to stay.
“He is contracted for next season, so that’s the positive part, he will be playing for us next year,” Harley told SEN on Thursday.
“And we will, as we have already done, work with him, work with his family, work with his management, on what the future looks like beyond next year and we would love him in red and white for the rest of his career.
“What I know about Chad is he is a fierce competitor, he is absolutely invested in our footy club, he is absolutely invested in the city.
“He has got great relationships with people who are close to our football club outside of the staff and the coaches and we will be doing everything that we possibly can to help him see that his future is at our club.”
It has been reported Warner’s intention is to return home at the end of next season.
It has also been suggested West Coast would be prepared to offer Warner up to 14 million across a decade-long deal.
Harley said one of Warner’s biggest assets was his ability to hit the scoreboard. The midfielder finished fifth in the club’s goalkicking list this season, with 35 majors.
“He’s a seriously, seriously good player, game-changing player and we all saw what he is able to do this year in different roles,” he said.
“He is a big part of our scoring profile isn’t he, his ability to hit the scoreboard as a midfielder, his ability to have goal assists.
“So clearly, clearly a very important part of our future going forward.”
