AFL 2023: Andrew McQualter, Adem Yze vie for Richmond coaching job

Andrew McQualter has strong support from within Richmond – but the Tigers were blown away by the presentation from a rival club’s assistant coach.

Andrew McQualter, Interim Senior Coach of the Tigers.

Melbourne assistant coach Adem Yze and Richmond interim coach Andrew McQualter will give their final presentations in the next 48 hours as the Tigers close in on a replacement for Damien Hardwick.

Richmond has been wowed by Yze’s detailed presentation handed to them in the week of the pre-finals bye after he narrowly missed out to Brad Scott (Essendon) and Adam Kingsley (GWS) last year.

But McQualter still has strong support from within Richmond, so the decision is a lineball call between two quality candidates.

Yze’s second presentation early this week comes after the Demons crashed out of finals contention with a second straight-sets defeat, and he would be a significant loss from the club’s coaching panel.

While McQualter’s 7-6 win-loss record included four losses in his final five games, the Tigers have always maintained he would not be judged solely on short-term results.

Richmond is keen to make its decision ahead of the grand final and yet with few significant trade targets have not been in a dramatic rush to make a decision.

Adem Yze (right) will make his final presentation to Richmond this week. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Yze said on Friday as part of his pre-match duties as a Demons assistant he was “proud” of how he had stood up in the challenging aspects of Richmond’s initial interview.

“(Richmond) have been terrific,” he told the ABC.

“They allowed me to have my presentation the week we had off leading into finals, and the next meeting I have got with them is next week. That is the last one I will present to and then they will make a decision after that. I have really enjoyed it.

“I really enjoyed the processes I went through last year with both clubs and this has been no different. It tests you. It puts you in a scenario and shows your vulnerabilities, and I have really enjoyed the process and am really proud of the way I have presented. I just know I have a presentation early next week and then they will get back to me on that.

“The first presentation is the hardest and you have to put a fair bit of preparation into it.

“I had four days off so I could put my presentation hat on and dig into that, and once we have gone back into our footy club, I have gone back into my normal job and I have the weekend to organise my last presentation and see how it goes.”