FORMER Richmond captain Wayne Campbell will replace Jeff Gieschen as the AFL's national umpiring director.
Campbell, who played 297 games for the Tigers from 1991 to 2005 and won four Jack Dyer medals as Richmond's best and fairest, will be responsible for the development of the AFL's senior umpiring panel and the overall strategy for umpiring at all levels of the game.
He will join new senior umpiring coach Hayden Kennedy, a veteran of 495 VFL/AFL games as a field umpire, in a new-look leadership team in the League's umpiring department.
Since his retirement, Campbell has worked in a range of off-field roles at the Western Bulldogs and Richmond, to further his aspirations in football administration.
AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said he was delighted to be able appoint Campbell to the role.
"Wayne was a high-class player with Richmond, with a deep understanding of the strategy and tactics of the game," he said.
"Throughout his playing career, he was a leader on the field and around his club and, since his retirement, he has sought to build his knowledge base and head into a career in football administration.
"The AFL is delighted Wayne has accepted this role as his experience in implementing programs for elite performance at club level will be invaluable for AFL umpiring.
"His understanding of the modern game and trends on the field will assist the AFL Laws of the Game process and he possesses the administrative, management and leadership skills to drive the recruitment and retention of umpires nationally and expand the talent pathway programs."
Campbell, who will take up his role in mid-January, said he was thrilled to win the position.
"What attracted me to the role was working in a high-performance environment where I think I can make an impact," he said.
"The breadth of management skills required in the implementation of the national umpiring plan is an area that excited me and I want to continue the good work already done in increasing the respect for umpires and help boost the number of umpires at grass-roots level.
"As a team, we will also continue to explore ways to expand the diversity of umpires at all levels and I'm looking forward to meeting the umpiring fraternity and can't wait to get stuck into the role."
