While former Fremantle coach Mark Harvey is in Perth and likely to interview for an assistant position later this week, AFL.com.au understands Rawlings has also been sounded out by the Eagles.
Rawlings is North Melbourne's senior recruiter and induction coach, a role that involves balancing the recruitment of new talent and the development of first-year players.
The role was tailored for the 32-year-old, who took up a position within the Kangaroos recruiting department before retiring at the end of 2011.
A top shelf run-with midfielder and small defender later in his career, Rawlings played 245 games for North Melbourne, winning the best and fairest award three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2010 (equal).
For 10 seasons he played alongside Simpson, who said on his appointment at West Coast, "There's no doubt you need people you can trust when you're starting off in a job."
The Eagles have lost assistant coaches David Teague and Scott Burns, as well as strategy and innovations coach Phillip Walsh, who returned to Port Adelaide.
With Simpson a first-time senior coach, it is considered likely the Eagles would look to replace Walsh in the senior strategy and innovations role, with Harvey an option in that position.
Harvey's family has remained in Perth since he moved to the Brisbane Lions for the 2012 season as a senior assistant and football strategist.
He took over as caretaker coach for the final three games of the 2013 season after Michael Voss was sacked.
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
