McCartney walks as Bulldogs coach

Brendan McCartney has quit as Western Bulldogs coach following revelations of a player backlash at Whitten Oval.

The Bulldogs made the announcement a short time ago, saying McCartney had chosen to quit after club captain Ryan Griffen's decision to seek a trade to Greater Western Sydney.

McCartney is the third AFL coach to have been sacked or forced to resign this season following the departure of Guy McKenna at Gold Coast and Brenton Sanderson at Adelaide.

McCartney's position had been under scrutiny following the Bulldogs' tepid finish to the season, although three days ago Gordon dismissed reports the coach went within a whisker of losing his job last month.

Disgruntled captain Griffen's shock trade request to the Giants on Thursday had put the club in a spin.

Later on Thursday the Bulldogs revealed in a statement that Griffen's misgivings of McCartney were behind the two-time club champion's desire to leave Whitten Oval.

"We are extremely disappointed at his approach and have no intention of indulging it," Gordon said of Griffen in the statement.

McCartney, having lost the support of his most influential charge, has since been in high-ranking meetings and mulling whether he should stay on.

McCartney was appointed coach in 2011, when he pipped favourite son Leon Cameron who is now coaching GWS.

He is contracted until the end of the 2016 season.