The AFL have added Geelong great Joel Selwood and retired Adelaide and Port Adelaide champion Erin Phillips to its football operations department.

The pair have been tasked with aiding the game's on-field product and growing player engagement across both the AFL and AFLW, working in tandem with areas of AFL House that cover game analysis, talent pathways and player movement.

โ€œI 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,โ€ AFL general manager of football Laura Kaneย said.

โ€œErin 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.โ€

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Joel Selwood of the Cats celebrates with the premiership cup during the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Selwood is a four-time premiership player with Geelong and the club's record games holder, featuring in 255 matches for the Cats.

A six-time All-Australian and three-time best and fairext winner, Selwood expressed his excitement to take on a new role with the AFL.

"I look forward to working in at the AFL especially with the team lead by Laura Kane," Selwood said in a league statement.

"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."

Phillips, who announced her retirement from the AFLW in October, was a three-time premiership player with the Crows and would play two seasons at Port Adelaide before hanging up the boots.

The dual premiership captain spoke on her passion to further develop the Women's game.

โ€œI'm really excited about the opportunity to support the AFLW and continue to grow our great game for women across Australia," she said.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Chelsea Randall (left) and Erin Phillips of the Crows celebrate during the 2019 AFLW Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Adelaide Oval on March 31, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

"I'm fortunate to learn under the guidance of Laura Kane and her team. 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."

The AFL has also announced AFL Umpiring boss Dan Richardson will transition to the role of coaching engagement manager, with the league now seeking to fill a head of officiating position.

Lisa Lawry has been appointed as the projects and women in umpiring lead at AFL House whileย Paulyย Vandenberghย will begin a new role as the AFL'sย Indigenous and Multicultural Player Engagement Manager.