FORMER Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney is a shock candidate for the vacant Essendon coaching job.

It is understood the Bombers have sounded out McCartney, a man who spent a season as assistant under James Hird and Mark Thompson in 2011 before moving to Whitten Oval.

Sacked last year from the Bulldogs, McCartney spent 2015 as a development coach at Melbourne, his fifth AFL club after starting as an assistant in Richmond in 1998 before joining Geelong in 2000 for a hugely successful stint that included two premierships.

As Channel Nine revealed, McCartney is a man of interest for Xavier Campbell and his selection sub-committee, which has also pursued Sydney Swans assistant Stuart Dew and Collingwood's Scott Burns.

However, the hopes of the three current assistant coaches hinges on the decision of John Worsfold who is being chased for a senior position.

The Demons have been made aware of Essendon's approach to McCartney.