From a professional sense, Daniel Pratt says it would be great to field a call from Essendon.

Former North Melbourne and Brisbane defender Pratt, who is currently backline coach for Luke Beveridge at the Western Bulldogs, is always looking to further himself in the coaching game.

Despite being focused on the job at hand with the Doggies, he would be open to hearing from the Bombers once they begin their search for Brad Scott's replacement.

“The first thing we all think about is what we’re doing at the moment,” Pratt told Sam Edmund on SEN’s The Captain’s Run.

“We’ve got a big game this weekend (against Collingwood). We played a bit better last week, so I’m focusing on that.

“But from a professional sense you’re always going to look at opportunities. When you’re a first-time coach and you’re hungry to keep growing, you look at it that way.

“If that happened it would be great if they gave me a call. Like everyone else will say is I’ll just focus on what my role is at the moment and try to do that as best I can.”

Pratt admits that the presence of James Hird could make the process interesting for anyone out there who may be keen on applying for the Dons gig.

“I did see some of the Hird stuff that he is showing interest,” he added.

“He loves the club so why wouldn’t he show his interest for that role.

“What does it mean for prospective coaches and first-time coaches or experienced coaches who might be looking at that position?

“I suppose a number of people in those positions would be looking at what that means for the next part with Hird’s interest.”

Carlton interest

Pratt is also interested in the Carlton coaching job.

The Blues are on the hunt for a replacement for Michael Voss after he stepped away from the role a few weeks ago.

Pratt says he’d be keen on throwing his hat in the ring for the Ikon Park vacancy.

However, he is focusing on the job at hand with the Bulldogs where he is showing loyalty to Beveridge who was an assistant at Hawthorn for the 2013 premiership when Pratt was co-captain at the Box Hill Hawks.

“I’m interested in taking my coaching as far as I can which would be in that type of role,” Pratt said a fortnight ago.

“But the focus is on the now, it’s still very early in the year.

“I’ve been really fortunate actually, I’ve been able to work at a lot of clubs that have had premiership success.

“I was able to do that with Bevo at Hawthorn years ago and the loyalty to him is why I came back to the Bulldogs. So I’ll continue that loyalty.

“I’m sure at some point there’ll be some conversations and I’m happy to talk about that when that happens.”

Asked if he would take part in the Carlton application process if he was invited to, Pratt replied: “Yes mate, I would.”

Pratt, 43, has been with the Dogs since arriving at the Whitten Oval at the end of 2023. He was named the AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024.

After his time at Box Hill with Bevo, he moved to West Coast where he started as a development coach in 2014. He was the backline coach when his former Roos teammate Adam Simpson led the Eagles to the 2018 premiership.

Pratt also spent the 2021 season as AFLW head coach at the Eagles.

As a player through the mid-to-late 2000s, Pratt played 116 games for the Roos and three for the Lions.