Football’s most senior Indigenous representative Tanya Hosch is expected to move on from the AFL

After cancelling her appearance at the league’s Indigenous launch in Darwin this week, inclusion and social policy boss Tanya Hosch is expected to vacate her role amid growing pressure.

Football’s most senior Indigenous representative Tanya Hosch is expected to move on from the AFL this year amid continuing pressure from the AFL Commission and the 18 clubs.

Hosch was slated to appear at the AFL’s Indigenous launch in Darwin this week but cancelled her trip in a move that surprised many clubs.

The league said she would appear at other games across the Indigenous round.

The Adelaide-based executive general manager inclusion and social policy was appointed by the AFL in 2016 and became the first Indigenous person appointed to the AFL executive.

But amid a period of significant change at the AFL, sources believe it is likely she will move on this year amid discussions with senior administrators about how she departs.

Tanya Hosch, middle, with Laura Kane and Richard Goyder during the Indigenous All Stars media announcement last year. Picture: Stefan Gosatti/AFL Photos

The league has had a torrid month after controversies surrounding Willie Rioli and Lachie Schultz’s concussion that were mishandled by the league.

It is also looking for a new chief operating officer and a new PR expert to handle strategy after longstanding communications boss Brian Walsh stepped down.

Hosch helped bring about an apology to Sydney champion Adam Goodes over the league’s treatment and has helped in recent months to guide the AFL’s response to plummeting Indigenous numbers.

There are only 63 Indigenous players in the game, which is the lowest figure since 2006.

But amid waning support from Indigenous players Hosch’s non-appearance at the game between Hawthorn and Gold Coast in Darwin was a sign across the industry she would be departing in coming months.

There was speculation around her ongoing employment through the Covid period but rebounded to strengthen her power base inside AFL House.

Hosch pushed hard for the Indigenous All Stars game between a First Nations team and Fremantle in February.

But while she has been a high-profile advocate for Indigenous players it has disguised an at-times turbulent relationship within AFL House.

Sydney board member and Indigenous All Stars chairman Michael O’Loughlin told the Herald Sun this week he was an admirer of Hosch despite her crash or crash-through style.

“There is a lot of work to be done. Tanya Hosch is an absolute star. She fights for people, she fights for communities. We need more people like that,” O’Loughlin said.

“I am close to it because I was chairman of the Indigenous All Stars. It was an absolute success. The community turned up in droves. Tanya is the reason it got off the ground and the rest of us joined in the heavy lifting.”