Calling Sydney's Chad Warner a star is no bold call, but the 25-year-old is having quite the season that no one seems to be talking about.
While the likes of teammate Isaac Heeney, Port Adelaide's Zak Butters, Collingwood's Nick Daicos and Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli take the spotlight as the game's premier midfielders and game breakers, Warner is having a season that more than stacks up with the league's best.
Warner has been a key reason behind the Swans' incredible attacking prowess in 2026.
Sydney has kicked scores of 130-plus on six occasions, while also topping 160 points in a match three times.
Warner's speed, creativity and agility have been critical in the Swans' fast ball movement and counter attack. And the stats back up his effect on the contest.
The midfielder has booted 31 goals for the season, his second best in his career (kicked 35 goals in 2024 when he was also an All-Australian), and is equal-first among midfielder-forwards in the league with GWS' Toby Greene.
The star Swan leads the competition in goal assists on 27, ahead of the likes of Fremantle's Shai Bolton and Collingwood's Jordan De Goey.
Warner sits second in the league for total score involvements, trailing only Daicos. While he is also averaging 23.4 disposals and 4.4 clearances.
Like Warner, the Swans are also sitting, surprisingly, under the radar as the club launches into another finals campaign.
Sydney sits in second place on the ladder and its ability to pile on big scores will threaten anyone in September.
Add to the fact the Swans will be favourites to win their qualifying final and subsequent preliminary final, and it's incredible to think Dean Cox's side sits behind the likes of Fremantle and Brisbane in premiership calculations.
Superstar key forward Charlie Curnow's form remains red hot, and another Coleman Medal seems destined to come his way.
Heeney and Errol Gulden are in cruise control, which for them is fifth-gear, with two weeks left in the home-and-away season, while Brodie Grundy is on track for All-Australian selection as a ruck.
With five match-winners in scintillating touch, the Swans, arguably led by Warner, have an equal stake in this year's flag hunt with the Dockers and Lions.
