Geelong assistant coach Brendan McCartney has quit the club to work with AFL rivals Essendon, adding to the list of departures from the Cats.

With senior coach Mark Thompson quitting after two flags in 11 years and 2009 Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett joining Gold Coast, the Cats are still looking for a new coach.

Cats assistant Brenton Sanderson and former assistant Ken Hinkley, now with Gold Coast, are among the favourites to replace Thompson who quit because of "burnout" and is considering a move to his old club Essendon as a mentor to new coach James Hird.

McCartney has been on Geelong's coaching panel since 2000 and served as assistant coach and development academy director.

He'll joining Essendon as a senior assistant coach.

"It was in the club's plans for Brendan to become a development coach who would solely focus on developing our younger players," Geelong's football manager Neil Balme said on Tuesday.

"However he has now informed us he is looking to pursue a senior match-day role instead.

"On this basis we have reluctantly accepted Brendan's decision to resign."

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