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Sport Nation
Kane Cornes credits “mature” Chad Warner for open-minded contract approach
Lachlan Geleit • February 11th, 2025 4:10 pm
Kane Cornes appreciates Chad Warner’s approach as he weighs up the biggest decision of his career.
The 23-year-old comes out of contract this year with Sydney and is heavily sought after by both West Coast and Fremantle, with many expecting the West Australian to head home and play for a Perth club in 2026 and beyond.
While putting off contract talks usually leads to more speculation, Cornes thinks that Warner is going about his big decision in a mature way as he openly spoke to media on Monday where he honestly stated that he’s open to everything and has an open mind to his future.
“I did like the way that Chad Warner's handling the circus, which is going to be his contract,” Cornes told SEN Sportsday.
“He's spoken to the media today (Monday) and the AFL website has written up his quotes.
“He said, ‘I'm just playing this year and seeing how it goes’ and he said that he’s, ‘Leaving all options open. I’m obviously out of contract and just enjoying Sydney at the moment, to be honest. I'm very open to everything. It's obviously a big decision that I've got to make this year and I obviously want to make the right decisions. That's why I'm very open-minded and chilled about it’.
“I think it's a nice mature way to handle it. Like, if he's not stressed about it, if he's open-minded, then the rest of us, including the footy club, should be open-minded as well.”
Even though Warner hasn’t made up his mind publicly about where he’ll be playing his footy in 2026 and beyond, Cornes thinks that the All-Australian star is as good as gone after he purchased a multi-million dollar home in Perth in the off-season.
While Warner may be headed out the door, Cornes thinks it’s a breath of fresh air compared to players who say one thing and do another by the time the trade period rolls around.
“Now, to me, he's gone,” Cornes said.
“He's bought the house in Perth, he's gone.
“But he's not doing what Tom Barrass did last year, or even what Matt Rowell has done today as well sort of alluding to the fact that he's going to sign when he may not.
“I just kind of think it's a mature way to handle it from Chad.”
As Warner isn’t a free agent, the Eagles or Dockers would need to trade with the Swans to get their hands on the star on-baller if he did express a desire to return home in October.
