We can only go off how Freo have conducted themselves: salary details aren't public. Having chased Warner for years, being prepared to go all in on Baker and Bolton, at least sounding out Kozzy, having had cracks at Cumming (pause), McDonald and Gulden. Not the conduct of a team strapped for cash. I'd doubt that we'd be prepared to offer "biggest contract of all time" (which West Coast may well offer), but I'd equally doubt that we'd be offering less than what Sydney would be.
If there's gonna be salary cap struggles for Freo, it'd be post-2027. Serong and Young in particular are out of contract in 2027, and they'll be getting pay hikes on their next deal. Young signed on in mid-2022 when he was just a promising rebounding defender. Serong Christmas 2022 when he wasn't exactly the Brownlow contender and back to back All Australian he is now.
Good analysis, agree with all that.
Part of me hopes that Johnson/Erasmus have a break out year like Treacy did this year and that Warner is a bit quiet like Logan McDonald was this season, making our decision easy.