The AFL enlisted Geelong premiership player and former assistant coach James Podsiadly to work with the AFL umpiring department at the end of last year following the sudden departure of former head of umpiring Peter Schwab.

Podsiadly's role included helping umpires develop better ways of working together and assessing performance as the AFL prepares to appoint a new head of umpiring and high performance manager for 2018.

James Podsiadly during his playiing days. Photo: Pat Scala Credit:Pat Scala

Applications for those two positions are understood to have closed this week with the AFL to look at filling the positions in the new year.

Podsiadly played in the Cats' 2011 premiership after the Cats drafted him to play in 2010 as a mature-aged rookie when he was playing VFL and working in a high performance role at the club.