By pledging his future to the Swans,the 25-year-old has followed in the footsteps of Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom,who both signed on for four more years — and, from a rival club.
Florent,who is originally from Melbourne,can’t say for sure what other options he had on the table because he was so set on remaining at the Swans that he didn’t even ask his manager who else was interested.
He does know he could have earned more money by leaving but,he never seriously entertained the thought.
“My mindset was,I want to stay,so I didn’t even ask — I let them do all the negotiating,so I could just focus on my football,” Florent said.
“Honestly,they did a great job,keeping my mind off it. Being with my best mates and playing footy together,and living in North Bondi,it’s something that I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to put my mental health and welfare before anything else,really.
Ollie Florent has re-signed for four more years at the Swans.Steven Siewert
“For a bit of extra money ... it’s a long time,five years,so you want to get it right,but I’m very,very comfortable with my decision.”
Florent’s new deal,which will keep him in red and white until the end of the 2029 AFL season,leaves the Swans with just two major retention targets:Logan McDonald and Will Hayward.
McDonald has made all the right noises about re-signing,declaring last month that he was happy in Sydney and that his teammates were eager to “stay together for as long as we can” to turn their potential into premiership medallions.
Hayward,meanwhile,is reportedly being courted by the two clubs from his native South Australia.
“Everyone’s obviously going to do their thing and look after themselves,but I personally really want them — everyone — to stay,” Florent said.
“Me and Will are so close,we’ve just spent so much time together,and I want us to win a premiership together. It’d be hard for big names like those boys,getting big offers from back home and stuff like that — I could imagine you’d have something in your[head] telling you to go. You’ve got to weigh up what’s important to you.”
Florent will play his 150th AFL game,which will also be his 101st consecutive match — the fifth-longest active streak in the competition,and one he puts down to his increasing confidence as an elite-level player,his diligence in his preparation,and a little bit of luck,too.
“It’s definitely crept up on me,” he said of the milestone. “I remember speaking to ‘Kirky’[Brett Kirk] when I first got here. He said,‘Mate,just enjoy it,and take don’t take anything for granted.’ I’m like,‘Yeah,whatever.’ Now I’ve literally blinked,and I’m 25,turning 26 this year.
“I’m really not trying to take anything for granted,and enjoy the little things,now that I’m getting older. It’s exciting because premierships don’t come around often. For me,they haven’t come around at all,so that’s something I really want to get before I’m done.”
Meanwhile,the Swans have elected against recalling former co-captain Luke Parker for what would have been his first game of the year. Fully recovered from a broken arm,the five-time Brett Kirk Medallist had a dominant hit-out in the VFL last weekend but will spend a second week in the reserves after being overlooked for the derby. Dane Rampe,back from a hamstring injury,has replaced Braeden Campbell in Sydney’s only change.
As expected,the Giants have brought in Toby Greene (suspension) and Sam Taylor (concussion) for Xavier O’Halloran and Leek Aleer,with Stephen Coniglio still hobbled by a knee issue.
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