ADELAIDE'S inaugural premiership coach Bec Goddard has emerged as a leading candidate for Collingwood's vacant AFLW coaching job.

womens.afl understands Goddard is a person of interest for the role that remains open despite the start of the Sign and Trade Period this week.

The Pies formally opened their search for Wayne Siekman's replacement on Monday, with Goddard already on a priority list of a number of candidates at the Holden Centre.

"It will be an open and thorough process," Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson told womens.afl.

"It's a tremendous role and opportunity and already we have high-quality interest from many experienced coaches, which is pleasing," he said.

"We have attracted high-quality leadership talent into Collingwood and are building expertise in the women's sport high-performance area.

"As a result, the successful coach will be supported by a quality environment."

Siekman was sacked by the Pies last week after leading the club through the first three seasons of AFLW with a win-loss record of 7-14.

Goddard, Adelaide's coach in its first success in 2017, sat out of coaching this season after she departed the Crows following the 2018 campaign.

Based in Canberra for work with the Australian Federal Police, Goddard assumed an assistant coaching role with WNBL team Canberra Capitals in 2018-19.

She also fulfilled part-time AFLW media work with host broadcaster Channel 7.

Despite being out of a full-time coaching role in AFLW for 12 months, it is understood Goddard is keen to pursue a return to a club's top job.

Goddard was linked to Gold Coast's head coaching job earlier this year before the Suns appointed David Lake to lead its inaugural 2020 season.