The footy world was surprised on Monday when AFL General Manager of Football Steve Hocking called it a day on his time in the hot-seat.

Hocking, who took the job in 2017, quit his role as footy boss after being tempted into a move back to Kardinia Park as Geelong's CEO, which will become official later this year.

With this there is now a gaping hole in the AFL's top brass that will need to be filled as soon as possible, and there are multiple candidates reportedly in line for the job.

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - AUGUST 31: AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan and AFL General Manager Football Operations Steven Hocking address the media after Steve Hocking was announced as the new AFL General Manager of Football Operations at AFL House on August 31, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media/Getty Images)

According to Michael Gleeson of The Age, there are a few faces, some familiar, that the league has in mind to fill the position.

The most likely man to fill Hocking's boots is ex-North Melbourne coach Brad Scott, who has spent some time out of the limelight since he departed Arden Street in 2019.

However, according to 7News Melbourne's Tom Browne, the roadblock that is standing between the AFL and having Scott as their new footy boss is the Collingwood coaching job.

"Only the Collingwood coaching job could really sway Scott now from not taking up [Steve Hocking's role]," Browne reported.

Scott is currently the head of AFL Victoria and his appointment would be an easy one considering he is already within the organisation.

Rob Auld, AFL finance chief Travis' brother, is also one name on the list that the league are actively considering for the role too.

Auld was reportedly approached by the Bombers late last year as their head of footy but declined, meaning he is very much available to take the position.

Ex-Richmond captain Wayne Campbell too is another name Gleeson has floated that might be up for stepping into the hot-seat, but it is widely speculated he wants to stay in Sydney.

Campbell was head of umpiring for the AFL from 2013-2016 before stepping into the GWS head of football role from 2016-2020.

The most left-field proposed candidate of the bunch is recently-departed Pies coach Nathan Buckley, with the 48-year-old supposedly a target of the league's hunt.

This is a long shot according to Gleeson however, with the Collingwood legend making it heard that he wishes to spend time with his family before stepping back into the footy world.

There is no question that whoever does fill the role will have a massive task on their hands, with the head of football role being a notoriously demanding job.