'Playing golf with them': Chad Warner's secret rendezvous with West Coast revealed

Interest in Chad Warner from Western Australian clubs has been bubbling away for much of the year with the star midfielder in no hurry to recommit to Sydney long-term.

Warner is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with Sydney despite reports that the club first tabled a deal earlier this year.

Now, it has been revealed that Warner met with a rival club while visiting his home city of Perth.

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The 23-year-old will come off contract at the end of the 2025 season.

With John Longmire stepping down from his post on Tuesday, his successor, Dean Cox, has reiterated that retaining Warner is a "top priority" for the club.

"Chad is at the top of our priority now. He's an amazing footballer, one I've got a really strong relationship with," he told SEN WA's The Run Home on Wednesday.

"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."

But in worrying signs for the Swans, Warner is believed to be exploring a return home to Western Australia, with multiple reports stating that Warner caught up with Eagles officials in the last week.

"As per WA radio reports, [I] can confirm the Swans star spent time with West Coast officials in Perth on the weekend, which included playing golf with them," ABC sports broadcaster Daniel Garb wrote on X on Wednesday.

The Eagles have previously expressed their interest in luring the young gun away from the Harbour City with general manager Gavin Bell stating the club would welcome him with open arms.

"If Chad wishes to return to Perth at any point to continue his career, we would love to have him play at our club," he told The Sydney Morning Herald in May.

With breakthrough speed and fearlessness over the footy, Warner's value has skyrocketed since being taken by the Swans with pick No.39 in the 2019 draft.

Warner has played 85 senior games since his debut in 2020, averaging 22 disposals and four clearances, and kicking 78 goals.

In 2024, he finished third in the Swans' Bob Skilton Medal — behind only Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden — after featuring in 25 games and scoring 45 goals.