GEELONG football manager Steve Hocking has been appointed to the critical role of AFL football operations manager on Thursday.

The 52-year-old has led the Cats football department since the end of 2014 after the departure of Neil Balme, following a short stint in commercial operations at the club.

He has been a key member of the club's football department during its run of three premierships in five years between 2007 and 2011 and Chris Scott's right hand man in recent times.

"I'm thrilled to be part of the AFL and the broader game and quite humbled," he said.

Hocking also played 199 games for the Cats as a rugged back pocket and is regarded as one of the game's best operators.

He will face an overhaul of the game's Match Review Panel system and questions around the future of the centre bounce in his first months in the job.

Hocking will also need to make a decision on the extension of free agency as promised in the latest CBA.

He will finish up at the Cats at the end of the finals series, with Geelong sitting in second spot and preparing to play a qualifying final against Richmond on Friday night.

The Cats are anticipating an important trade period, with Suns champion Gary Ablett hoping to return to the club and Giants' Devon Smith and Jacob Hopper on the club's radar.

The AFL was forced to search for a replacement for Simon Lethlean when he resigned after just four months in the role following Mark Evans' departure to the Gold Coast.