EXPERIENCED umpires Justin Schmitt and Troy Pannell have announced they will retire at the end of the AFL season.

They broke the news to their umpiring peers at training on Thursday.

Schmitt officiated his first match in 1997 and has umpired 362 matches so far, including 15 finals, and was an emergency for the 2016 Grand Final.

Pannell made his senior umpiring debut in 2005 and has officiated 217 matches in total, including five finals.

He also served as president of the AFL Umpires' Association for the past three seasons.

AFL umpiring head coach Hayden Kennedy thanked Pannell and Schmitt for their contribution and wished them luck for their future.

"Troy and Justin worked extremely hard and dedicated a great deal of their time to the AFL umpiring community, and that is something we will always be grateful for," Kennedy said.

"Their commitment to the game over the years is to be applauded and to have umpired nearly 600 games between them is a testament to their commitment.

"Both will be greatly missed among the umpires and we wish them and their families all the best for the next step in their lives."