AFL

Eagles open to mature talent but tight lipped on Warner

By Justin Chadwick

Aug 21, 2026

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter doesn't want to speculate on Chad Warner's potential AFL future. -AAP Image

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says his young squad can't afford to add too many more teenagers to the list during the off-season, but the Eagles are remaining tight lipped about whether Chad Warner is still in their sights.

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The rebuilding Eagles entered this season with the youngest squad in the league, and will finish the campaign with only four wins unless they can upset Hawthorn in Sunday's clash at Optus Stadium.

West Coast's decision to chase the best young talent through recent drafts is set to pay dividends in future years, making the current pain potentially all worth while.

But the Eagles are also keen to add more A-grade mature talent, with two-time premiership defender Brandon Starcevich coming across from Brisbane at the end of last season.

Warner has been on West Coast's wish list for the past few years, but his AFL future is now clouded after being one of five Sydney players suspended over the hotel scandal that has engulfed the Swans.

The 25-year-old West Australian is contracted to Sydney until the end of 2027, but may leave the club in the coming months depending on the outcome of the current investigations.

McQualter said it wasn't the right time to talk about whether the Eagles would still be interested in luring Warner their way.

"I think it's totally inappropriate to speak about that at this point in time," McQualter told reporters on Friday.

"We don't know, no one knows at the moment, the whole situation, so probably not going to go there at the moment."

West Coast's list exploded to more than 50 this year after the club used special concessions to draft in extra players.

A total of 13 players remain without a contract beyond this year, and some of them may have to wait until after the trade and draft periods before finding out their fate.

But McQualter said it wouldn't simply be a case of West Coast loading up entirely on teenagers at the draft.

"We're the youngest squad, I believe, in the competition, so we have to be wary how many more young players we can put into this squad," McQualter said.

"So we won't be getting another eight, 18-year-olds. That's not part of our plan."

McQualter is hopeful Victorian defender Marcus Herbert, who has been a revelation since being snared in the mid-season draft, will re-sign with West Coast despite the building interest in him from Melbourne-based clubs.