Tanya Hosch will depart her role as the AFL's Indigenous lead on the executive, the league has confirmed.

It comes among additional changes announced on Thursday.

Earlier this month, speculation emerged Hosch's time at AFL headquarters was coming to an end per reports of a strained relationship between herself and administrators.

First Nations engagement and inclusion will be absorbed into the AFL Corporate Affairs portfolio, alongside media communications and sustainability amid an executive team restructure.

In 2016, Hosch became the first Indigenous person, and second woman, appointed to the league's executive team as general manager of inclusion and social policy.

During her tenure, Hosch led a review of anti-vilification policy and update of AFL Rule 35, or vilification rule - renamed the Peek rule after former administrator Tony Peek, in 2021, and advancement of Indigenous strategy.

Hosch has also been credited as instrumental in the AFL's apology to Adam Goodes, oversaw the first statue memorialising an Indigenous player - Nicky Winmar, in addition to first gender diversity and LGBTQI+ agenda within the league.

The Indigenous All Stars made a high-profile return to the footy calendar in February.

Her confirmed departure comes after reports of a strained professional relationship earlier this month.

Last week, Age journalist and football broadcast personality Caroline Wilson reported Hosch's coming "highly sensitive" exit included potential "accusations" from either direction between herself and the league, and potential legal elements.

The AFL's statement on Thursday confirming the departure moved to clarify chief executive Andrew Dillon was clear inclusion and firming Indigenous and culturally diverse participation and engagement in the game remain important topics.

"He also reiterated that the AFL has many talented Indigenous leaders in its organisation, across the clubs and the broader industry and only wants to bolster this," the statement read.

Hosch was recently appointed director of Indigenous Swans champions Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin's First Nations education-focused GO Foundation.

She will depart the AFL's executive on June 6.

"I am extremely proud of what I have been able to achieve during my tenure with the AFL. Being in the organisation just ahead of the first bounce of AFLW was a huge and special honour that my entry coincided with," Hosch said.

"At the AFL, we say we are 'a game for everyone' and I always saw my role as part of that story. I have learnt an enormous amount from so many skilled, passionate and talented people across the game. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with incredible people. I thank them all."

Hosch also thanked players, coaches, umpires and staff for "lessons" imparted, as well as previous AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, his successor in Dillon, wider executive team, her inclusion and social polict team and "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council for their wisdom, work and guidance.

"The game belongs to all of us that love it and serve it, and I have been humbled to have had the opportunity to be a steward for a time."

The AFL are currently on the hunt for a new head of corporate amid the recent departure of Brian Walsh and newly introduced chief operating officer role.

"Tanya has been tireless in her work to ensure that inclusion has been a part of everything we have done, from encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into the AFL industry, to supporting clubs at all levels of our game to navigate complex social issues and create policies to reduce vilification," Dillon said on Thursday.

"We have seen the benefit of Tanya's work this year as she was a consistent advocate for and a driving force behind the Indigenous All-Stars game in Perth and her leadership resulted in the AFL attaining Gold Status in the Pride in Sport awards for the first time – both achieved after years of hard work and advocacy.

"As an industry we are indebted to Tanya for making us better."

Executive panel shifts at AFL headquarters continue, with the AFL announcing more restructure on Thursday afternoon.

Head of football operations Laura Kane's portfolio is set to be carved up, with the appointment of a new football performance general manager to now handle the Match Review Officer, innovation, club engagement, umpiring, game analysis, player movement and laws of the game.

Kane will continue with operations of the men's and women's top competitions, VFL and VFLW, newly-formed healthcare and medical team, mental health response and concussion.

Talent pathways will also move out from the football department.

"The game is the reason we exist; it is as big and as good as it has ever been, and the AFL football department must continue to evolve. It must be structured, resourced and led in a way that can ensure everyone - the clubs, players, coaches, umpires and officials can continue to perform at the highest possible level," Dillon said.

"Laura will continue to play a major leadership role within the AFL, but the overall responsibility has grown so much that the traditional leadership role for an individual executive in footy is no longer the best model."