WESTERN Bulldogs great Tony Liberatore says the Bulldogs have to stick with coach Brendan McCartney despite the clear unrest among the playing group following Ryan Griffen's request for a trade.

McCartney's job has been in the spotlight for weeks after rumours of a rift with the senior players at the Bulldogs, which came to a head on Thursday when Griffen, the club captain and 202-game veteran, requested a trade to Greater Western Sydney. 

Liberatore, the father of current Bulldog midfielder Tom Liberatore, told NAB AFL Trade Radio that the Bulldog's board has to stick with McCartney. 

"At the end of the day it's the board's decision to work out whether they want Brendan McCartney as coach or whether they don't," Liberatore said. 

"It's my understanding that they still do and they'll have to go with him. I think he's started a program in place and they have to stick with him." 

Liberatore, who played 283 games with the club and won the 1990 Brownlow Medal, said he was surprised that Griffen wanted to leave and did not know the exact reasons for the decision. 

But he did believe McCartney had ruffled the feathers of some senior players and said there was a lack of leadership at the club. 

"I'm not privy to know what's actually going on," Liberatore said. 

"Obviously there's a few home truths being told to some of the players and unfortunately what I see now is a lack of leadership within the footy club, which is disappointing. 

"But they have been rebuilding so that's probably the problem that I see."