Impending free agent Cameron Zurhaar has reportedly hit pause on contract negotiations amidst talk that a non-Victorian club has expressed interest in luring the Kangaroo away from Arden Street.

The East Fremantle product began his days as a Shinboner after being brought across the Nullarbor with the 11th pick of the 2017 AFL Rookie Draft.

Since making his debut in Round 17 of the same season, Zurhaar has gone on to play a total of 99 games in blue and white, slotting 133 goals in the process.

However, with the currently uncontracted forward set to have given the Roos eight years of service by the end of the 2024 season, Zurhaar is on the verge of meeting the markers of an unrestricted free agent.

While North Melbourne will hold confidence in keeping the 25-year-old on their books into the future, Nine News' Tom Morris has reported that Sydney is keen to bring Zurhaar north of the border.

"This interest is preliminary, and it is very early, but he's a free agent," Morris said of conversations regarding the tattooed forward.

"Multiple sources confirmed to me this evening that the Sydney Swans are in the hunt for him. They do have a Buddy-sized hole to fill, and he is a 25-year-old and a free agent, so they can get him at the end of the year if he remains out of contract.

"For now, it looks as if contract talks will be on hold until mid-way through the year, at which point I would imagine many other clubs would also be in the race."

Despite pushing further up the ground in 2023, Zurharr completed his third-straight 20-plus goal season last season, with the Roo known as 'Bull' averaging 1.55 majors per game since the start of 2021.

Though Zurhaar remains unlikely to put pen to paper before the bye, he has already made his stance on loyalty to the Shinboners' cause known after previously firing shots across the bow of Jason Horne-Francis after the former No.1 draftee jumped ship.

Zurhaar and the Roos will commence their 2024 campaign when they travel to the Harbour City to face GWS on Saturday, March 16.