FORMER Western Bulldogs assistant Brett Montgomery is locked in as a candidate for the Brisbane Lions senior coaching job as the early pool of contenders takes shape.

AFL.com.au understands Montgomery will be an applicant for the position vacated by Justin Leppitsch this week, while Peter Sumich is also interested in exploring the job.

Montgomery and Sumich were both spurned by their clubs last month, with the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle sending them on 'gardening leave' after their contracts were not renewed for 2017.

After narrowly missing the Bulldogs' senior appointment won by Luke Beveridge, Montgomery served as the club's senior assistant for the past two seasons.

However, his contract was not renewed beyond 2016 and the Bulldogs chose not to allow him to stay on for the club's finals campaign as he had wished.

The experienced assistant, who played in Port Adelaide's 2004 premiership, has impressed in the second intake of the AFL's Level Four coaching program.

Sumich, who is also completing the Level Four program, has been linked to a number of vacant roles in his native Western Australia. 

It is understood he has been approached by WAFL club Claremont in recent weeks and is seen as a good fit for the vacant WA under-18s position.

The 48-year-old had been widely tipped to return to West Coast after six years away from the club but has not signed any deal to be part of Adam Simpson's coaching team.

As part of Sumich and Montgomery's respective departures they were prevented from speaking publicly until their contracts expired at the end of October.

The Lions are yet to announce the make-up of their coaching sub-committee.

Highly-rated Sydney Swans assistant Stuart Dew this week confirmed to his club he would not apply for the Lions' position.