The constant speculation surrounding Swans star Chad Warner's future has continued to build ahead of the new season.
Warner is currently weighing up what will likely be huge offers from his home state of Western Australia, with West Coast and Fremantle both vying for his services.
At the same time, the superstar midfielder is being lauded for his performances by current club, Sydney, who took a chance on him with Pick 39 in the 2019 National Draft.
Warner has played 84 games for the Swans, including two grand final defeats in the past three years, whilst also securing his first All-Australian blazer in a career-best season in 2024.
But Eagles premiership player Will Schofield has declared that the 23-year-old will return to Western Australia and line up for the Eagles, teaming up with wunderkind Harley Reid.
Schofield, speaking to Zero Hanger at the Fox Footy 2025 AFL Season Launch, said that to expect a Warner homecoming is well within reason.
"It's a lock ... that's my opinion," Schofield said.
"He's not going to Fremantle. He's going to West Coast."
West Coast currently holds two first-round picks and a pair of second-round selections, courtesy of Hawthorn due to the Tom Barrass trade this last offseason.
That is compared to the Dockers' regular solitary picks in rounds one to four of the 2025 AFL Draft, with a secondary third-round pick from Richmond.
Warner spoke last week on his ongoing contract dilemma to AFL Media, saying he'd remain "open-minded" about the process.
"I'm obviously out of contract and just enjoying Sydney at the moment, to be honest. I'm very open to everything," Warner said.
"It's obviously a big decision that I've got to make this year and I obviously want to make the right decisions, that's why I'm very open-minded and chilled about it.
"It's all up in the air. At the moment I just want to keep my options and my mind as open as it can be, to be honest.
MORE: The Chad Warner state of play: Eagles, Dockers or Swans?
"The one thing that I do know the most is that I love playing with these boys and love playing in Sydney so I don't want to make the wrong decision either way.
"I'm just playing the year and seeing how it goes."
Warner has previously met with West Coast officials, including club CEO Don Pyke and former Swan, Kieren Jack, late last year.
It is also understood that Warner purchased a home in the Perth suburb of Applecross, which is, ironically, placed right in the middle of Dockers and Eagles headquarters.
Fox Footy and Kayo Sports are set to reign supreme over the AFL broadcast landscape, hosting all nine matches each week with their own commentary team for the first time after securing the rights to the prime time slots.
