Walsh steps down from AFL role at 'Roos

Long-time AFL football manager Geoff Walsh has stepped down from the role at North Melbourne, with Cameron Joyce taking his place.

Walsh will stay at the Kangaroos, but Joyce will run their football department.

One of the AFL's most-experienced club officials, Walsh ran the football department at North and was then their chief executive.

He joined Collingwood and was a key figure in their 2010 premiership, before resigning in 2013 and eventually returning to Arden St - again as North's football boss.

In June, North coach Brad Scott made the explosive claim after a match that umpires were intentionally not paying Lindsay Thomas free kicks.

It quickly emerged there had been a miscommunication among North staff, including Walsh.

The AFL fined Scott and the club heavily for the error.