Reports that Chad Warner met with West Coast officials during his time in Western Australia has been labelled “a bad look” amid conjecture around the Swans superstar’s future.
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Warner is the biggest name out of contract in 2025, though not yet eligible for free agency, with links to both clubs from his home state WA.
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It’s believed the in-demand 23-year old caught up with Eagles CEO Don Pyke and head of strategy and innovation Kieran Jack on the golf course during his recent visit to Perth.
Granted, Warner would have a relationship with both figures from their time at the Swans.
Still, Geelong champion Cameron Mooney thinks it reflects poorly given West Coast is reportedly aggressively pursuing Warner.
“I’m sorry, I think it looks really bad. I’m a little bit filthy if I’m Chad’s teammate,” Mooney said on SEN Breakfast.
“People might say: ‘They’re just mates’. Yeah, absolutely they’re mates. But they’re mates working for a team (chasing him).
Asked if he ever caught up with friends from rival clubs during his playing days, Mooney said: “Not if my name was being speculated upon, I would not be happy with it.
“Don Pyke is the CEO of a club basically opening the door for him. No, I’m sorry, no. It’s a bad look.
“I wouldn’t be happy if I was Chad’s teammate if he was over there playing golf (with Eagles officials).”
Despite the pull to return to his home state and godfather offers he’s set to receive from West Coast and Fremantle, SEN journalist Sam Edmund expects Warner to stay at the Swans.
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“I’d be really surprised if he left at the end of next year,” Edmund said.
“He’s not a free agent yet, make that clear. West Coast is starting again, Sydney is in the (premiership) window.
“I would sign a two-year deal, I think that takes him to free agency, then you reassess then.
“Hopefully if he does want to go back, West Coast is in a better position, Sydney might have won a premiership by then, who knows.
“But gee the Swans have a good track record in this space. Errol Gulden, James Rowbottom, Logan McDonald, Ollie Florent, Will Hayward — they’ve all re-signed, most of them on less than what they would have received elsewhere.
“They’ve got as stable a culture as anywhere.”
New Swans coach Dean Cox was asked about the Warner situation on SEN radio earlier this week, 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,” Cox 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.”
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