Shepparton product and Melbourne assistant coach Adem Yze will take the Dees’ coaching reins this weekend, with coach Simon Goodwin due to miss Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn after entering the AFL’s health and safety protocols.
Yze, a 271-game player for Melbourne between 1995 and 2008, said he felt comfortable stepping up in Goodwin’s absence.
“(Goodwin’s) in good spirits, he’s just tested positive (to COVID-19 on Wednesday),” Yze said in an AFL press conference.
“We’ve had a couple of discussions already this morning to make sure that the program stays the same.
“It won’t be just myself, obviously everyone’s got to step up with our senior coach out of our program.
“I’ll just be the face of it this week, but I feel comfortable in doing it, though.”
Yze spent six seasons as an assistant with the Hawks between 2014 and 2020, working under premiership coach Alastair Clarkson before heading back to his former side in 2021.
The Shepparton Swans product was confident in how he would approach things on Saturday.
“I’ll coach from the box on game day but then leading into the game … I’ll still be a midfield coach and then take the reins on game day and transfer the message from all the coaches,” he said.
“We’ll have different staff members doing different roles to help fill that void.
“We’ll try to make it as clear as we can and as seamless as we can for the players, they’re the main ones.”
Although the fixture this weekend is likely a one-off, many believe it won’t be long before Yze makes the move into senior coaching on a permanent basis.
Melbourne great Garry Lyon has backed the highly-rated Demons assistant, saying it’s only a matter of time before Yze is offered a top job.
“In the last five years all you hear is unbelievably good things and seeing last year and how he worked with that group,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think he’ll coach senior footy, and I think he’ll coach senior footy soon.”