FREMANTLE has declared it has an "attraction" in exploring outgoing Essendon coach John Worsfold as a possible addition to beef up its coaching panel in 2021. 

Worsfold will depart the Bombers at season's end in a mutual agreement with the club in order to return home to family in Perth. 

A legend at West Coast with three flags as premiership coach and player, Worsfold's exploits across town won't deter the Dockers at looking at him to assist Justin Longmuir. 

"Clearly John's got a remarkable record as a player, as a coach, as a general leader in AFL footy so you'd be silly not to look at that type of option," Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick told ABC Radio on Saturday. 

"I don't know John well, I did utilise his wisdom and expertise in a process that eventuated in Luke Beveridge being appointed when I was at the Bulldogs and found him really insightful and measured during that process. 

"There's clearly an attraction but the reality is I haven't spoken to John, I don't believe anyone else at the club has at this point in time." 

Longmuir accepted the Dockers' senior coaching role in September last year with former teammate Josh Carr the only addition from Ross Lyon's old panel of assistants. 

Last year's assistants Michael Prior (defence), Anthony Rock (stoppages and structures) and David Hale (forwards) all remain. 

Garlick said the Dockers were weighing up what their coaches' box would look like for 2021 with football department spending to be a major consideration given it will drop from $9.7m to around $6.2m due to COVID-19.   

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"We're going through a process that is a challenging one in relation to setting up our structure for next year when you're basically ripping out over 30 per cent of your cost base," Garlick said.

"We've got to make some pretty significant decisions around priorities and where that all fits and clearly support for Justin across all lines is critical for us and that'll be falling into that type of decision-making process." 

Worsfold was quizzed last month on the prospect of joining new Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks for 2021 given he acted as a caretaker at the Crows for half of 2015 after the death of coach Phil Walsh.

"I have no concrete plans for anything full-time next year at the moment, but I will be working next year so that is a given," Worsfold said.

"I'm looking forward to finding a new job and a role to play somewhere. 

"If that's in the AFL, which I love the AFL industry, so I'd to be still part of it but I'm not actively considering those things at the moment." 

With Ben Rutten to succeed Worsfold at Essendon in 2021, all senior coaches in the competition hold a contract for next year after recent extensions for Stuart Dew (Gold Coast) and Leon Cameron (Greater Western Sydney).