‘He’s a million miles an hour’: Swans’ Chad Warner in AFL’s fast lane

Chad Warner and umpires have taken an unlikely intersection lately.

It is a trend the Swans’ rapidly developing midfielder is keen to avoid as his team faces their toughest test of the season, against top team Melbourne on Saturday night at the MCG, without suspended superstar Lance Franklin.

Last Friday night Warner booted the ball into the crowd as the siren sounded to celebrate his team’s stirring come-from-behind victory against Richmond at the SCG, only to find that a free kick had been paid to opponent Dion Prestia a kick and a half from goal.

In the normal ebb and flow of a game it would have been an automatic 50-metre penalty for time wasting, but given there was no time to waste, Prestia was left with the impossible task off kicking a 70-metre goal to tie the game.

It became the game’s talking point, even though Richmond coach Damien Hardwick pointed out that with a lead of more than five goals during the third quarter, the final moments should never have been an issue.

“Obviously everyone’s got a lot to say about that, but I honestly didn’t even hear the whistle at all, otherwise I don’t think I would have done that,” Warner told the Herald and The Age.

“To be honest, I think it was the same with all the Richmond boys around me, too. They just put their hands on their heads. I don’t think any of them heard it, then the umpire came running over late.

“The umpires call things and they can go either way, so it’s just one of those things, which obviously worked in our favour.”

Things didn’t work out a week earlier when Warner was on the charge against Carlton, had a bounce as he swerved around an opponent, and was pinged for running too far as the Swans were trying to halt the Blues’ momentum during the second quarter. When Warner lifted his hands to ask what he had done wrong, a 50-metre penalty was paid against him.

Chad Warner during the Swans’ recent loss to Carlton.Credit:Getty Images

There was an instant outcry bemoaning the fact that the umpires’ crackdown on dissent had flipped into Vaudeville.

Former North Melbourne premiership player David King has made clear his frustration at this season’s officious umpiring.

“It’s not the mistake, it’s a secondary mistake. Chad Warner bounces the ball, runs eight metres and the umpire calls too far,” King said.

“Already there’s anger… so that’s one umpiring error that becomes a 50-metre penalty and a goal off the back of the umpire making one error, compounding into two errors and a goal.”

Warner was more philosophical: “Umpires miss things and pay others. You’ve gotta not give away 50 and just get on with it.”

As a young man putting himself in the middle of big moments, there was none bigger moment than passing the ball to Buddy Franklin for his 1000th goal in round two against Geelong at a packed SCG.

Lance Franklin celebrates kicking his 1000th goal against Geelong in round two.Credit:Getty Images

“That was the best thing that’s happened in my career,” Warner said with obvious joy. “I’ve never seen anything like that and obviously never will again.

“It’s just an amazing thing to be a part of, kicking the ball to him. It was pretty crazy.”

If Warner had followed his instincts that moment would never have happened. His first thought was to have a shot for goal.

“He was in so much space. I just had to [pass Franklin the ball],” Warner said with a smile which will stay with him for a lifetime.

Warner quickly realised that despite his central role helping his superstar teammate achieve a piece of history, the 21-year-old was only an extra on Franklin’s stage as thousands of people invaded the ground.

Stuck with fellow midfielder Ollie Florent, the pair were let out of the ground and walked around Driver Ave to the change rooms amid surprised comments and selfies with fans.

Ollie Florent and Chad Warner on Driver Avenue walking to the change rooms after the ‘Buddy’ Franklin 1000th goal ground invasion.

“That was pretty funny,” Warner recalled. “We found ourselves at the Paddington end of the ground, we had to go through a race just to get out of the chaos. One of the security guards found us and showed us that way. It was a pretty good experience.”

In his third season as an AFL footballer, Warner has taken a big leap to become an integral part of the Swans’ midfield as they build towards another finals campaign.

That was obvious last Friday night when he was the leading possession winner as the Swans stormed home against Richmond.

Swans co-captain, veteran Luke Parker, is excited by Warner’s development as part of a young side.

“He’s a WA boy and his off-field attitude is exactly the same as on field,” Parker said. “He’s a million miles an hour at everything he does. If he chooses to do something he’s all in.

“He’s developed into a really key part of our midfield.”

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