The AFL have announced a major restructure with Laura Kane’s role as general manager of football split in half and general manger of inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch departing.

Kane will move into the newly created role as executive general manger of football operations, while the AFL will recruit a new EGM of football performance.

Kane will be responsible for the operations of delivering the AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW, and the Coates Talent League competitions matches and a newly formed AFL healthcare and medical team including the league’s mental health response and ongoing concussion management.

She will also lead the AFLW as it enters its 10th season in 2025.

The new football performance head will be responsible for MRO, umpiring, game analysis, player movement, Laws of the Game, innovation and club engagement within football.

Hosch leaves the AFL after nearly nine years as a member of the executive team.

Once she leaves on June 6, the existing corporate affairs portfolio will include First Nations engagement and inclusion, as well as media, communications and sustainability.

The AFL is on the hunt for a new corporate affairs manager and a chief operating officer.

AFL general counsel Stephen Meade will remain in his role, but has been taken off the executive team.

The moves come after months of turmoil at league headquarters.

The AFL came under heavy criticism for their handling of the Willie Rioli saga and the Lachie Schultz concussion situation.

There has also been ongoing criticism of the umpiring and match review incidents.

CEO Andrew Dillon said Kane’s job became too much for one person to handle.

“The game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve. It must be structured, resourced and led in a way that can ensure everyone - the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and officials can continue to perform at the highest possible level,” he said.

“Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL, but the overall responsibility has grown so much that the traditional leadership role for an individual executive in footy is no longer the best model.

“Her leadership, expertise and ongoing relationships within our industry is an important part of our next phase, including driving the growth of the AFLW competition, and leading the newly formed healthcare and medical team, in which so much work is undertaken behind the scenes with clubs and players.

“Footy is at the heart of everything we do, it has to be front and centre. It’s the reason people care, the reason they’re passionate, the reason they show up every week. My focus is making sure we keep working closely with our clubs, coaches and players to keep our game strong, and to ensure footy remains the number one sport in the country — by every measure.

“The games are competitive, anyone on any given day can win, and more people than ever are playing, participating and watching right across the country. That’s a credit to the many people who’ve come before us, and my priority is to build on this into the future.

“In order to get to 10 million fans, two million members and one million participants, I need to set us up in the right way, and these changes announced today reflect that commitment.

“The game must always continue to be at the forefront.”

Dillon also thanked Hosch for her nine years at the AFL.

“Tanya has been tireless in her work to ensure that inclusion has been a part of everything we have done, from encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into the AFL industry, to supporting clubs at all levels of our game to navigate complex social issues and create policies to reduce vilification,” Dillon said.

“We have seen the benefit of Tanya’s work this year as she was a consistent advocate for and a driving force behind the Indigenous All Stars game in Perth and her leadership resulted in the AFL attaining Gold Status in the Pride in Sport awards for the first time – both achieved after years of hard work and advocacy.

“As an industry we are indebted to Tanya for making us better.”