West Coast Eagles will continue to circle homegrown superstar Chad Warner during the final season of his contract.
Warner, contracted for one more season at Sydney, has remained firmly on the Eagles’ radar since he was drafted in 2019.
The line-breaking Swan extended for two seasons in 2026, taking him to restricted free agency at the end of next year.
Warner and four Sydney teammates were suspended for this year’s finals campaign after breaching club standards.
There is also an ongoing sexual assault investigation from the same night at the East Melbourne Pullman Hotel in August.
The Eagles secured Melbourne premiership pair Jack Viney and Trent Rivers on AFL trade period deadline day.
Rivers, 25, and Warner played junior football together and were both drafted out of East Fremantle.
West Coast Eagles list boss Matt Clarke said he would “continue to assess” Warner and his free agency status.
“I don’t know if we turn to it or if it’s always sort of been a part of it,” Clarke told AFL Trade Radio with a laugh.
“We’re always looking at those guys when they’re coming out of contract, free agents all over the place.
“Obviously, Chad is very happy with where he is in Sydney at the moment. We will continue to assess him.
“If there’s a link between Trent and Chad, that’s great. I am sure Chad will make up his mind as to what he wants to do.
“For the time being, we’re focused on what Trent and Jack Viney are going to bring to the footy club next year.”
Clarke also said he would assess Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill after he and Collingwood parted ways.
Hill battled personal issues in his final two seasons at Olympic Park, playing just one game in the best part of 18 months.
The dynamic small forward, still just 26, is widely expected to return to his home state of Western Australia.
“I think anyone of that sort of talent, and proven talent as well on the biggest stage, you need to look at,” Clarke said.
“Like most clubs, I would’ve thought, you do your due diligence around Bobby and how he’s tracking.
“It would be great if he can get himself back into a great frame of mind, physical shape to give himself a shot back at AFL footy.
“He’ll be just another one of those guys we’ll assess for a potential position in that space.”
Viney, 32, will play two seasons with the Eagles before stepping into a coaching role for another two years.
Clarke said topping up experience was important after losing Jeremy McGovern and Jamie Cripps to medical retirements in recent seasons.