‘Enormous respect’ in new AFL rivalry
Richmond coach Adem Yze says Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin has continued to be a close confidant this season but it will be “on for young and old” on Wednesday night.
Yze, who was a senior assistant under Goodwin for three years including Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign, said he had enormous respect for his opponents but was determined to use his inside knowledge to help pick apart the Demons in the Anzac Day Eve clash.
He said the Tigers’ bye had been valuable for their coaching staff as well as the players as he conceded a horror spate of injuries had “taken a toll” on the football department.
Yze confirmed Richmond would regain Dylan Grimes and Jacob Hopper from respective wrist and knee injuries, but more than a dozen Tigers remained unavailable for selection after their 1-5 start to the season.
“We tried to make sure (we had a break) because it has been tough, not only the players going through it but coaches – our selection meetings have been going a little bit longer than usual and late outs and things like that, so that does take its toll,” Yze said on Tuesday.
“As a coaching staff and as a footy department we really wanted to freshen up and make sure on (Wednesday) we come in with a lot of energy.”
The coach said nothing could have been done to prevent contact injuries like a catastrophic broken wrist for Tim Taranto on the training track two weeks ago but acknowledged a selection mistake had contributed to Dion Prestia’s hamstring tear in round 1.
“We had a decision around Dion – he wanted to play (off a five-day break), but we had a choice of not playing him, and that’s realistically the only soft tissue (injury) where we pulled the wrong lever there, and we take full responsibility for that,” Yze said.
“But to see Dion, he’s almost getting back into full training, so to have him back around the group and to see his smiling face and his leadership around the group … he’ll be back in a couple of weeks as well, so that’s going to be nice.”
Yze had not exchanged a message with Goodwin this week but said the Demons coach had continued to provide valuable support since he departed the club last season.
“Not yet, (Goodwin might text) tomorrow, but he’s been a great support for me, not only the last three years but even the last three months,” he said.
“It will be good to see him after the game, but it will be on for young and old during the game.”
Yze said it would help to be familiar with the Demons’ brand of football and individual players’ strengths, but Goodwin did not think there would be “an advantage either way”.
“We have enormous respect for Adem – we know what he did for us as a footy club and our coaching group, but we’ve respected what he’s done at Richmond,” Goodwin said.
“When you watch Richmond play, you know one thing – they’re going to bring effort, they’re going to bring intensity and they’re going to play the right way, and you can see that even in their losses so far.
“It’s silence at the moment, but I’m sure post-game we’ll catch up for a coffee or a quiet beer and debrief the game.”