The AFL is searching for a new football operations boss after Steve Hocking quit his post to return to Geelong as a replacement for outgoing chief executive Brian Cook.
Hocking will finish up at the league on Thursday and start his new position with the Cats in October.
Andrew Dillon, the league's legal counsel, will take on Hocking's key AFL role in an interim capacity.
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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan hopes to appoint a replacement for Hocking before the end of the season, with former North Melbourne coach and current league employee Brad Scott regarded as a potential candidate.