‘We’re the hunted’: Florent relishing Swans’ time at the top

A month after signing his own five-year extension with the Swans, defender Oliver Florent is hopeful his out-of-contract teammates will resist rivals’ bumper deals to stay and chase premierships in Sydney.

On Thursday, the Swans announced that young prospect Matt Roberts has been secured for two more years, but the club still need forward Logan McDonald and star midfielder Chad Warner to sign new contracts.

“We’re all really close off the field and everyone’s signing just because I feel like we’ve got something brewing here and we believe in what we’re doing. I guess we all just want to be part of something special,” Florent said.

Asked specifically about out-of-contract players potentially turning down greater financial rewards elsewhere to stay in a winning team at the Swans, Florent remains hopeful.

“I hope so, obviously, everyone’s going to make their own decisions and stuff like that,” Florent said. “But I think with the guys who are out of contract, we really value them as people and we would love them to stay. They’ve got their own stuff that they have to cover off first, but yeah, we want everyone here.”

Florent has been at the Swans for seven years and has developed into one of the competition’s best halfbacks alongside teammate Nick Blakey, giving his team the ability to rebound and attack at will.

Oliver Florent of the Swans and team mates run onto the field at the SCG

The Swans secured their 10th win in a row against crosstown rivals the Giants last week and Florent is getting used to life on top of the AFL ladder ahead of Saturday’s clash against Fremantle at the SCG.

After being asked whether he has ever been part of a side that has won this many games in a row, Florent could only think back to his junior football days with Sandringham Dragons in Melbourne as a reference point.

“I guess we’re the hunted and teams want to come out and really test us and put us to the sword, but I guess it’s up to us to sort of match it. We just love playing footy with each other,” Florent said.

“You know it’s a privilege, every team is good and you have to bring your best every week because you get found out pretty quickly and this group’s embracing all the tough times.”

The Swans look set to name an unchanged side against Fremantle at the SCG, with another big home crowd expected.

“I think we’re averaging around 40,000 a match which is just incredible, and even off the field and just around the streets, people are getting around the footy and I’ve never seen NSW like this,” Florent said.

Meanwhile, the Giants have received a boost with the return of midfielder Stephen Coniglio ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Adelaide, after the midfielder recovered from a shoulder injury earlier than expected.