The AFL today announced that Steve Hocking has accepted its offer to take over as its General Manager of Football. Steve will remain with the Cats until our season is completed. Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook made the following comment today regarding Steve, his new role and the club’s search for a replacement.

“Steve Hocking has spent over half his life at the Geelong Football Club. Steve’s contribution, firstly as a player and over the past 14 seasons as one of our key executives, has been paramount in the success we have achieved as a club.

“Since re-joining our club in late 2003, Steve has filled a number of key roles, most recently as our general manager of football. His calm presence, strategic thinking, values based management style and versatility has served the club very effectively.

“It says a lot for Steve’s capabilities that during his time here he has been able to head up both football and commercial operations at different times. It goes without saying that we are disappointed to lose Steve from our club. However in saying that, we are immensely proud of the fact that he has been chosen to fill a role so vital to the league and the game.

“We have no doubt he will do an outstanding job as head of football for the AFL. While he will be impartial in his role, we will always see him as a Geelong person. He leaves behind a legacy of which he should be proud and for which the club is grateful.

“Steve will remain with the club throughout the finals series and is fully committed to our finals campaign. It will be business as usual going forward until Steve leaves to take up his new position. The club will commence its search for Steve’s replacement at the end of the 2017 season.”

Hocking made his debut for Geelong in round 21, 1984 against Richmond. He went on to play 199 games, retiring after the 1994 AFL Grand Final.

After a successful business career, Hocking returned to the Cats as chairman of selectors for the 2004 season and quickly progressed to the key role of Assistant General Manager – Football Operations. Hocking took up the role of General Manager of Commercial in 2015, then returned to the football side as General Manager of Football in 2015.