Swans’ Chad and Corey Warner revelling in AFL ‘anonymity’ in Sydney

Earlier this year, before signing their respective two-year contract extensions at the Sydney Swans, Chad and Corey Warner thought long and hard about what the club and the city meant to them.

Both brothers loved their upbringing in Perth and return whenever there is a viable gap in their schedule. Sydney can never replace the family and friends they miss, but it has given them a different perspective on their daily lives.

In Sydney, the Warner brothers can walk near their home in Coogee and remain largely anonymous. Back home in Perth, it is impossible to escape from their day job.

“Even if you are just going out for dinner with your family or something in the off-season [in Perth], I guess there is a lot more attention on you,” Corey said.

“I think it’s definitely a benefit for us in Sydney here; you can go out with your mates, or go out for dinner, go to the beach, and you can just be a different person and not like an AFL player, and not have all the attention on you for a bit when you’re away from the club. But it’s definitely a reminder when you go back to Perth.”

Since his breakthrough season in 2022 when he made the All-Australian squad, Chad has gradually become used to the level of interest in his career at home. The star midfielder seriously considered offers to move home to the Dockers and Eagles, but understood that his life would change dramatically.

“On the weekend, we went out because Dad was over for the [Giants] game, and went out to the [Coogee] Pav to have a few beers, and you never do anything wrong, but I feel like [in] Perth they’d be trying to find something that you’re doing wrong, so that is really annoying,” Chad said.

“Even coaches over there – I think at the moment the Freo coach [Justin Longmuir] is copping it a lot – and I think it’s really, really tough in that regard, too, because fans are pretty ruthless over there. And I think a lot of the time they want to blame, and just want to keep blaming and blaming, and I think the coach at the moment is kind of falling victim to that a bit.”