SYDNEY could turn to champion West Coast ruckman Dean Cox after starting its search to replace departed senior assistant Stuart Dew.
Cox, who has also interviewed with Geelong about an assistant coaching position, met with the Swans this week in Sydney.
The 36-year-old has spent the past three seasons as an assistant at the Eagles and appears set to leave after 18 years at the club as a player and coach.
Sydney is searching for a new assistant coach after Dew landed the Gold Coast senior position on Wednesday night, winning a three-way race against Scott Burns and John Barker.
John Longmire's off-field team has undergone significant change, with highly rated pair Henry Playfair (St Kilda) and Josh Francou (Adelaide) joining new clubs in the past month.
Both left with the Swans' blessing, with retired star Steve Johnson joining the panel as forwards coach and NEAFL coach Rhyce Shaw taking charge of the backline. Brett Kirk is the Swans' midfield and stoppages coach.
Retired defender Jeremy Laidler and former Swan Tadhg Kennelly have been appointed as development coaches.
It is understood the Swans are not necessarily seeking a like-for-like replacement for Dew, given they are entering the coaching market late and have lost a standout assistant.
They could reshuffle their panel to cover the loss and will go through an interview process with a number of candidates.
Cox met with the Cats in Geelong on Tuesday and is expected to join former senior assistant Justin Longmuir in leaving the Eagles.
The 36-year-old, who is West Coast's games record holder after playing 290 games between 2001-14, started his coaching career as a playing ruck coach in 2014.
He held the same role in 2015 before being promoted to stoppages coach in 2016 after Don Pyke was appointed Adelaide senior coach.
The champion big man worked in tandem with Adrian Hickmott as midfield coach in 2017.
Cox was one of five Eagles assistant coaches out of contract at the end of 2017, with Longmuir departing to Collingwood, where he will oversee team defence and the backline.
Champion midfielder Sam Mitchell has joined Adam Simpson's coaching panel at West Coast after announcing his retirement.
