Retired premiership captains Joel Selwood and Erin Phillips will join the AFL’s football operations department next year under new GM of footy Laura Kane.
The pair will specifically focus on the on-field football product and player engagement in what will be part-time roles.
The appointments continue a shakeup of the AFL’s football department under Kane, who assumed the role on a full-time basis in August after serving as interim following Brad Scott’s departure at the end of last year.
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Selwood’s stellar 355-game career with Geelong came to an end after last year’s premiership triumph with the 35-year-old taking on a part-time leadership role at Melbourne Storm.
The four-time premiership player also welcomed his first child into the world at the start of the year and was a member of Channel 7’s Talking Finals program during this year’s finals series.
“I look forward to working in at the AFL especially with the team lead by Laura Kane. The game of AFL I have always loved and now it’s time to help it continually grow from a different seat which I can’t wait for.” Selwood said.
Phillips called time on her glittering career ahead of Port Adelaide’s final match of the AFLW season.
She will go down as one of the greatest ever players, having won three premierships with Adelaide, including two as captain.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to support the AFLW and continue to grow our great game for women across Australia. I’m fortunate to learn under the guidance of Laura Kane and her team,” she said.
“Footy has always been my passion, I owe so much to the game so I am grateful to be able to continue to contribute back to the game I love.”
Kane praised the appointments as well as revealing new GM of football operations, Josh Mahoney, will now oversee the umpiring department.
Dan Richardson, who was previously head of the umpiring department, has been moved to the coaching engagement manager.
The AFL will begin the process of recruiting a new head of AFL officiating that will report into Mahoney.
“I am so pleased that we have secured the knowledge, insight and experience of two of our games most respected leaders to work within our footy department,” Kane said.
“Erin and Joel’s on-field achievements speak for themselves; I am very much looking forward to them joining our recent appointments in Josh Mahoney and Geoff Walsh and making an immediate impact to our broader AFL Football operations team.”
