Swans’ Warner worries growing? Secret Eagles catch-ups revealed amid ‘top of our priority’ claim

With John Longmire stepping away as Sydney coach, and Dean Cox taking the reins from Horse, job 1a is keeping the Swans in the premiership window.

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Job 1b, and a key part of 1a, is keeping Chad Warner.

But the future of the superstar midfielder is up in the air with Warner believed to hold some interest in returning home to Western Australia once out of contract at the end of 2025.

And multiple reports have stated Warner caught up with the Eagles – who are desperate to add young talent to a troubled list – in recent days.

“As per WA radio reports, can confirm the Swans star spent time with West Coast officials in Perth on the weekend, which included playing golf with them,” the ABC’s Daniel Garb reported.

It’s a warning shot and a clear signal of their intentions to lure him across to help spur the rebuild. But more on Warner later.

The Swans have been perennial contenders for the past couple of decades but have only broken through for the ultimate prize once under Longmire, back in 2012.

They’ve been so close, yet so far on so many occasions.

This year they were clearly the best side throughout the season but were uncompetitive against the Brisbane Lions on the biggest stage of all. In 2014, 먹튀검증가이드 the Hawks prevailed comfortably over the Swans, in 2016 the Dogs had their fairytale season and in 2022 Geelong took care of business.

It begs the question, when you’re so close, how much, if anything, do you change up?

Longmire isn’t out the door at Sydney HQ, instead he’s moving into a role as Executive Director – Club Performance, a role that means Cox will be responsible for all day-to-day workings of the club on-field.

There’s no doubt that Cox, who has served under Longmire since 2017, has learned plenty from his time as a deputy and his style and methods could be similar.

Despite the questions surrounding the timing of the announcement, the Swans were in constant dialogue throughout the 2024 season surrounding the possibility of Cox taking the reins in 2025.

He turned down the chance to pursue the West Coast Eagles coaching job after Adam Simpson’s departure and was a key figure in the room for the Swans on draft night (when Longmire wasn’t).

The Dean Cox era has officially arrived, which means where the Swans go with their list moving forward is a point of intrigue.

The biggest talking point is what the appointment of Cox does for superstar midfielder Chad Warner, who may look to return home next year.

Warner has been linked to a return to Western Australia for the 2026 season and will be one of the biggest names – if not the biggest – in the player movement space next year.

The Eagles and Dockers have both started preparing plans to make audacious bids for the star Swan, keeping relatively quiet across the trade period and draft, the exception being Fremantle’s use of two first-round picks to nab Shai Bolton.

“I can’t wait to be back next year,” Warner said at the club’s best and fairest this year, though this of course could just mean playing in 2025.

Cox was was asked about the Warner situation on SEN Breakfast on Wednesday morning, saying the star midfielder was the number priority to get locked away.

“We want to retain as much of our talent as we possibly can. This year we did that with Logan McDonald, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent,” the new Swans coach said.

“Chad is at the top of our priority now. He’s an amazing footballer, one I’ve got a really strong relationship with.

“He’s really enjoying his time in Sydney. That’s the role of our footy club and myself now, to try and make sure we can get Chad locked away as quickly as possible and create the environment he wants to be a part of going forward.”

Warner loves the Swans and the Swans love Warner, but sometimes the pull of going back home can prove too strong, as it did with former Tiger and new Eagle Liam Baker.

Can Cox and the Swans find a way to convince one of their biggest stars to stick around?

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