Chad Warner has revealed he decided to turn his back on a return home and remain at Sydney after leading the Swans to a breakthrough win over Fremantle in round two.

The Swans announced that Warner had re-signed for a further two years on a deal that is believed to be worth about $1.35 million a season.

West Coast and Fremantle had both put strong offers to Warner to bring the 23-year-old back when his contract expired at the end of the season, but he’s decided to remain at the club where he has played 91 games since being drafted with pick No.39 in 2019.

It will take the West Australian product to free agency when his signature is again set to be chased hard by both the Eagles and Dockers.

Speculation ramped up that Warner would return to Perth this year when he purchased a $2.9 million home in Applecross in January.

But his strong connection with former Eagle turned Sydney coach Dean Cox is believed to be a key driving factor behind his decision to stay at the harbour city.

The thrilling three-point victory over the Dockers on March 23 was Cox’s first at the helm of the Swans, with footage emerging of the midfielder running up and embracing the coach in the rooms after the game.

Warner also pulled the Swans guernsey after kicking a pivotal goal against the Dockers, before spending the week in WA which he said was when he made his choice.

“Along the whole way, as I’ve said the whole time I was pretty 50-50 to be honest,” Warner told the media on Thursday.

“We went back and played Freo, I had about a week there in Perth. When I came back here that was the moment and I came back and told the club I want to go ahead with it and start working on it with them. From there it took a little while but we got there in the end.

“Before that (win over Fremantle) I was probably leaning this way but that game and being back in Perth and coming back here really cemented it and that gave me the go ahead.”

Warner said the offers from Fremantle and West Coast had tempted him along the way with both clubs believed to be willing to offer the dynamic midfielder lucrative deals.

“It was huge. Like anyone going through this process they’d always have that pull (to go home),” he said.

“There was a big part of me that did want to go back but then I think the part of me wanted to stay here was even bigger.

“That over weighed in the end and I’m very excited and happy about my decision.”

Warner was coy when it came to the conversations he had with both Fremantle and West Coast about a potential move.

“We obviously had a lot of conversations with my manager over there, myself and them but the reality is a lot of it was behind closed doors and we keep that to ourselves,” he said.

“There was a big pull though, I’m not really shying away from that and there was a lot of me that kind of did consider it but in the end this was bigger for me than any of those.”

Warner said the connection he had with Cox and the rest of the players had contributed to the decision as well.

“The boys and the relationships I’ve created here with them, the coaches and just everyone involved to be honest,” Warner said when asked about why he chose to stay.

“The amount the club’s been able to do and come up with off field with my family, my partner and me as well, has just been astronomical, to be honest.

“I never thought I’d be valued this much at a club and I can’t be thankful enough.”

Warner also held special praise for Cox who had been his long-time midfield coach.

“He’s such a connective, relationship built person and the whole since I’ve been in Sydney we’ve created a great relationship,” he said.

“The way he’s handled this, the way Leon (Cameron) handled this situation has been pivotal in me staying.

“They’ve always been really supportive and understanding that going home and whatever you want to do is actually a big pull. They’ve been really understanding of that and not putting too much pressure on it but also really showing how much they want you to stay as well.”

While Warner will be at the Swans for the next two seasons, the door is ajar for a move to Perth as a free agent at the end of 2027.

It means Fremantle or West Coast could recruit the superstar without needing to trade for him, while the Swans would get strong compensation at the draft.

“Having two years gives you a great amount of time to know where you’re going to be and know where your future is going to be for at least the time being,” Warner said.

“It gives you the time to develop even more as a footballer and even develop your mind more to what you want to do in the future too.

“It gives you great options either way but playing footy here is probably the best thing about the two years anyway.”

Asked if he wanted to stay longer at Sydney, Warner said: “You never know, I think you could get to that point and something else might happen.

“For now the two years is definitely what I’m very happy to do and I think I’ll get to that point and you never know it might happen again.”

Warner joins his younger brother Corey, 21, who also re-signed for a further two seasons in March locking him away until the end of 2027.

“To have something so rare happen and to both be so valued at a club is such a special thing,” Chad Warner said.

“I think Mum and Dad are pretty happy about it too to be together and hopefully a few more pre-season fights to come.”

One key driver behind Warner’s decision seemed to be success and the two-time grand finalists was confident they had the team to win a premiership.

“This team can achieve more than any other team in the competition can. I have so much confidence in us,” Warner said.

“The list and how good our list is, is probably a big reason I did sign here too.

“We have some of the best culture and probably the best team in the comp to be honest. When we’re firing I think we can do anything.”