DOB: 21 September 1977
Debut: Round 13, 1995 against Richmond at MCG
Last Game: Round 22, 2008 against Richmond at MCG
From: Shepparton United/Murray U18, Selection #16 1994 National Draft
Number: 44 (1995), 13 (1996-2008)
Honours:
Best and Fairest - 2001
Best First Year Player - 1995
Rising Star Nomination - Round 11, 1996
Grand Final team - 2000
Victorian State Representative - 2000
All Australian - 2002
Life Member - 2004
International Rules Representative - 2000, 2002
Mark of the Year nominee - Round 16, 2005, Round 21, 2006
Games: 271
Goals: 234
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % | |
| 120 | 1 | 150 | 44.28 | |
Statistical categories led:
Most Rebound 50s : 645
Most games in jumper 13
Most goals in jumper 13
As a junior Yze played an Under 16s game in baggy board shorts, and responded to heckling from the crowd by kicking 20 goals. Melbourne's interest in him was sealed when he kicked six goals for the Murray Bushrangers in an Under 18s final. The Demons used pick 16 in the 2004 National Draft on 'Ooze', and he made his debut midway through the following year as a late replacement for the injured Clay Sampson.
After nine games in his first season, Yze signed a three year contract extension at the end of the year. He was a regular in 1996, and nominated for the Rising Star after a 19-disposal, 5-goal performance against Fitzroy in Round 11, 1996.
Early in his career Yze moved between the back line and the midfield, occasionally playing small forward. In Round 8, 1997, Yze began his streak of 226-consecutive games, while his form continued to improve, thanks to a permanent move to the midfield, which showed off his kicking ability, amongst the best in the competition.
Yze was one of the performers of 2000, pivotal in helping the Demons reach the Grand Final and he earned a two year contract extension. In 2001 he won the Best and Fairest, and his game hit its peak the next year when he finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal with Travis Johnstone and made the All-Australian team. That year he led the league in kicks, 418, while only dishing off 72 handballs. That year he represented Australia at International Rules, and was nearly lured to Carlton as an uncontracted player. The Blues offered $1.2 million for his services over three years, above the $1 million over three that the Demons offered but despite the increased financial terms on offer Yze re-signed with the Demons.
In Round 17, 2003 Yze played his 150th consecutive game. He had played through rolled ankles and osteitis pubis, but his streak nearly ended when his wife was due to give birth on the same day as the round 1 clash with Hawthorn. She had the baby on the Wednesday before the game and the streak continued. A move to the forward line in 2005 saw him kicking 41 goals, with two bags of five.
Yze came close to leaving the Demons again at the end of 2005. Contract negotiations broke down after a poor second half of the season. He finished 10th in the Best and Fairest despite playing every game. Eventually he re-signed for three seasons.
Injuries started to trouble him in 2007, and when he was dropped in Round 2 it ended his consecutive games streak less than a season away from passing Jim Stynes for the league record. He returned in Round 4 for a career high 38 disposals, but by mid-season a groin injury was found to be a hernia and he underwent season ending surgery.
Yze returned in Round 1, 2008, but by then new coach Dean Bailey had introduced a youth policy, and he was delisted at the end of the season.
Yze finished his career with the 3rd most games played for the club - just one game behind Robert Flower & 35 behind David Neitz - and the 19th most goals. He expressed interest in continuing his football career elsewhere by nominating himself for the 2009 National Draft, but conceded he had "stuff all" chance of being drafted. After not being selected he returned to the VFL and joined the Box Hill Hawks.
He then joined the Shepparton Swans for the 2010 side, playing alongside former teammate Russell Robertson, and served as a part time development coach and runner for Hawthorn in 2012 and 2013. In 2015 he was promoted to Hawthorn's backline coach.
Yze's brother Damien was a supplementary list player for the Demons in the late 90s.
Coach
Only game as coach: Round 7, 2022 vs Hawthorn at MCG
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | % |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
Yze returned to Melbourne in 2021 as midfield coach. In Round 7, 2022, he was senior coach when Simon Goodwin was unavailable due to COVID 19 protocols.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow | |
| 1995 | 9 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 19 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 19 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 25 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 22 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 25 | 37 | 14 | |
| 2001 | 22 | 24 | 8 | |
| 2002 | 24 | 19 | 17 | |
| 2003 | 22 | 17 | 5 | |
| 2004 | 23 | 19 | 14 | |
| 2005 | 23 | 41 | 7 | |
| 2006 | 24 | 30 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 8 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 5 | 1 | |
| Match | Charge | Sanction | ||
| Round 17, 1997 | Wrestling | 1 week pay, 1 match payment | ||
| Round 9, 1998 | Wrestling | $1000 fine | ||
| Round 10, 1999 | Charging | Not Guilty | ||
| Round 21, 2000 | Melee | $3500 fine | ||
| Round 18, 2001 | Charging | Not Guilty | ||
| 2002 Wizard Cup Match 2 | Striking | 1 match | ||
| Round 4, 2003 | Unduly Rough Play | Not Guilty | ||
| Round 14, 2004 | Charging | Withdrawn | ||
| Round 5, 2006 | Wrestling | $900 fine | ||
| Round 16, 2006 | Abusive language | $900 fine | ||
| 2007 NAB Cup Round 1 | Attempted trip | Reprimand | ||
Lists
100 Plus Consecutive Games
Coaches
Coaching staff
First draft picks
Life members
Media
Age - 04/07/1995
Age - 07/09/1995
AFANA News 2001
Age - 14/09/2002
Age - 24/10/2002
Age - 24/07/2003
Links
Australian Rules Football profile
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
2001 player profile
2003 player profile
Draftguru profile
Twitter profile
Wikipedia profile