3 minute read

After missing out on the Richmond AFL head coaching job to Adem Yze, long-time assistant and former caretaker Andrew McQualter is expected to join Melbourne.

Andrew McQualter is expected to join Melbourne in what would be a swap with new Richmond coach Adem Yze.

Earlier on Tuesday, Richmond confirmed McQualter had left the club after missing out on the full-time senior coaching role.

McQualter had led the Tigers to seven wins from 13 games after he took over from three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick, who stunned the AFL after he resigned suddenly in May.

On September 21, Yze won the permanent Richmond role from McQualter in a tight call.

Yze was an assistant coach under Simon Goodwin at Melbourne before winning the Richmond job and McQualter is understood to have gone to the Demons in a similar role.

Yze had said he would be happy to have McQualter as his "right-hand man", but his departure had appeared on the cards.

The Tigers confirmed on Tuesday that McQualter was going to another club after 10 years at Punt Rd.

The former St Kilda and Gold Coast player initially joined as VFL playing assistant and development coach ahead of the 2014 season, but later became an AFL assistant.

He was involved in Richmond's three premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

"We would like to thank Andrew for his incredible service to Richmond across 10 years," Richmond football performance boss Tim Livingstone said in a statement.

"He formed great relationships within the organisation and played a big part in our success over that period.

"Stepping up to be interim coach was a selfless decision by Andrew, and he did a brilliant job leading the team for 13 weeks.

"Andrew moves on to further enhance his coaching credentials, which we respect.

"He is an excellent coach with a long future in the game, and we wish him and his family all the best."

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon had approached McQualter last year about joining his panel, but last week said a reunion was unlikely.

"That ship has sailed, to be honest," Lyon told the SEN radio network.

Yze was meeting Richmond players and fans on Tuesday night at the club's Jack Dyer Medal best-and-fairest function.