Sydney on-baller Chad Warner won't have to look far this Friday night to see his role model, and Western Bulldogs captain, Marcus Bontempelli.
Warner spoke to media on Tuesday ahead of his 100th game, which will ironically be shared with Bontempelli's 250th at the SCG under the primetime lights.
The Swans youngster, who is six years his junior, revealed that the Bulldogs midfielder was one he watches closely, trying to emulate the Footscray icon.
"100 per cent [he's a role model]," Warner said.
"Obviously, we're pretty different players, but same position. The one thing I take is the ability, same as Isaac (Heeney), to go up forward and be really good in the air... be a damaging threat.
"He's someone I've watched since I was young."
Warner's milestone comes in spite of heavy interest from his home state Western Australia, and the strong bids made by both West Coast and Fremantle.
The Pick 39 rejected a move west to remain at the Swans for another two years.
"It's pretty weird to think that it's come around already," Warner said.
"Coming from Perth, not knowing what was going to be happening after that and not knowing if I was going to play one game, I'm so grateful.
"First of all, for the chance, by the club and then to be valued so much within a footy club and a community as well."
The Swans have turned around a poor start to 2025 to sit two games outside the top eight, with Friday's contest acting as an eight-point game.
Sydney welcomed back Errol Gulden and Tom Papley to the mix, while captain Callum Mills and veteran Harry Cunningham returned from their respective injuries.
Familiar names Jake Lloyd and Oliver Florent also pressed their case for a senior recall after being dropped in recent weeks.
"It's a very big, squad mentality at the moment," Warner said.
"I think it started a couple of weeks ago with a little off-field tune-up with the standards that we made, and I think everyone is really buying into it.
"You look at Oli (Florent), who went back about a month ago to the twos, and his training standards from there have been huge, and the amount of boys he's brought along with him, I think, is helping everyone."
