Sydney senior coach John Longmire has commented on the immediate links tying his assistant Dean Cox to the vacant role at West Coast.
Cox was one of the first names seen as a likely target for the Eagles as they begin their search for Adam Simpson's successor following the premiership coach's departure on Tuesday.
While midfield coach Jarrad Schofield has been given the keys as caretaker and could be in consideration, the club is likely to look across the competition to find the person set to lead the powerhouse club into its next era.
Cox, as well as fellow ex-Eagles Ashley Hansen and Jaymie Graham, have been raised as expected options for West Coast, with the retired ruckman almost a perfect fit given his steadily built CV as an assistant with both the Eagles and Swans across a decade following his retirement.
Cox also has ties with West Coast CEO Don Pyke, with the pair both working under Longmire in the Harbour City in recent years.
Questioned on West Coast's potential interest in Cox, Longmire played a straight bat, telling SENย he knows his right-hand is committed to his work with the Swans.
"As far as Dean is concerned, I'm not in the business of commenting on what other clubs are going to or shouldn't do," Longmire said.
"I know he's fully invested in us, and he's been fantastic for us. What that looks like as the season progresses... I'm sure he'll be invested in what we're doing and how we're going about the back end of the year.
"I really can't control what happens from there. I remember when I first jumped into the chair, I thought I was ready and I wasn't. But you're never quite ready for this job."
With West Coast to immediately get their coaching search and subsequent interview process underway, Cox could be a live candidate while Sydney continue their charge for the premiership.
The situation could see the 290-game ex-Eagle balance his workload as an assistant with the flag favourites while pressing his case for the West Coast vacancy, should he be interested.
Longmire revealed he believes there will be no hindrance to Cox's duties with the Swans should he partake in the Eagles' coaching process.
"It can be a challenge but we're about supporting our people, whether they're players or a staff member - any staff member that would like to better themselves," the Swans coach added.
"We're about supporting our people and at the same time making sure that we do the job at hand.
"I'm absolutely over the moon confident with Dean Cox's ability to be able to do that, he's been fantastic for us."
Cox has been an assistant with the Swans since 2017, having moved across the country after three years as a ruck coach - two of being full-time following his retirement - at West Coast.
