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West Coast\u2019s glut of A-grade young talent has turned last year\u2019s wooden spooners into a destination club again, but Sydney coach Dean Cox has a simple plan to ensure the rising Eagles don\u2019t nab Chad Warner.<\/p>\n
Warner is back in his home state of Western Australia ahead of Saturday\u2019s AFL clash with the Eagles at Optus Stadium.<\/p>\n
![\"Swans](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5e6578a6e068f993ce509359754c3915bd498978.jpeg\")
Swans head coach Dean Cox.via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old turned down significant offers from both West Coast and Fremantle before re-signing with the Swans last year on a deal that runs until 2027.<\/p>\n
The Dockers might now struggle to fit Warner into their salary cap given their star-studded list, but the Eagles appear perfectly placed to launch another bid on the gun midfielder at the end of this season or next.<\/p>\n
Making West Coast\u2019s case stronger is the fact their extensive rebuild is showing huge signs of coming good, especially on the back of wins over North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.<\/p>\n
No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma, No.4 pick Cooper Duff-Tytler and fellow first-round pick Josh Lindsay appear destined for stardom, while other elite talent on their list includes Harley Reid, Jobe Shanahan, Archer Reid, Bo Allan and Reuben Ginbey to name a few.<\/p>\n
Cox would love Warner to stay at Sydney long term, and is doing everything in his power to ensure the 2024 All-Australian sees the Swans as his best fit rather than a club on the rise like West Coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really look at who\u2019s a destination club and who\u2019s not,\u201d Cox said in Perth before Swans training on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worry about do people want to come to our football club and do people want to stay at our football club?<\/p>\n
\u201cMine\u2019s about trying to make sure that we can keep all our people happy and play the footy we want to play, which will, in turn, hopefully keep them there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll always speak to Chad about the possibility of staying and, first of all, just creating a team around him that he wants to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prized Swans recruit Charlie Curnow has kicked just five goals in three games this season, but Cox defended the former Blue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s three games, my expectations are he plays a really strong four or five years at our football club,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we got him, we knew it was going to take time to fit into a new team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think you\u2019ve seen too many key forwards around the competition -when they\u2019ve gone to a new team – click straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney (2-1) welcome back Isaac Heeney for Saturday\u2019s match, while West Coast will be trying to plug the gaps left by midfield bulls Elliot Yeo (groin) and Deven Robertson (suspended).<\/p>\n
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