Richmond coach Adem Yze fondly remembers his time playing in Goulburn Valley League

Yze then retired at the end of 2008 and, after a season playing for Box Hill in the VFL in 2009, the then-32-year-old returned home to Shepparton to don the red and white at Princess Park in 2010.

The Dyl and Friends Podcast episode featuring Yze was released on Monday.

During the interview, Yze spoke about cherishing the memories from his seasons spent in Goulburn Valley League following his retirement.

“For two years, I went and played local footy down at Shepp,” Yze told the Dyl and Friends Podcast.

“I had an older brother and a younger brother; got an opportunity to go down and play footy with them.

“Did that for two years and that was amazing.’’

The 2010 Swans side featured a lot of names that will be familiar to the Goulburn Valley public and football fans.

Yze and his brothers Ramadan and Damien were joined in the senior side by notable figures such as Shane Sali, Jarrod Sutherland, Brett Warburton, Tim Looby and Jason Rachele.

On top of that, Yze said he also brought former Melbourne teammates Russell Robertson, Nathan Brown and Shane Woewodin (one game) along to Princess Park for the season.

“Had Russell Robertson come down and he kicked (111) goals in one of those seasons,” he said.

“Nathan Brown, one of my best mates, we would travel up on a weekend and play and stay there for the function.

“It was unreal.

“You would just enjoy the game like it is a footy and netball club and post-game functions, it was just great fun.

“And obviously my mum and dad were in Shepp and my younger brother.”

Yze said playing community football in his hometown was a breath of fresh air after the stress and rigours of AFL.

“Not that I didn’t enjoy my (AFL) career, it’s just a different enjoyment (local football),” he said.

“You just get out there and run around.

“The scrutiny around it isn’t as high, you just go around and try to get 35 touches and kick five every week.”

Shepparton Swans’ 2010 season ended prematurely after losing to Echuca in a semi-final by 42 points.

After one season in red and white, Yze dragged his brothers down the road to Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.

“I started at Shepparton United — until I got drafted — but like I said I was drafted when I was 17, so I only played a handful of games there,” he said.

“I played a season with (the Swans) and then I played with Blake Campbell, so Brad Campbell and I played cricket with as a kid and he was coaching Mooroopna, so I played one season with Swans and then moved over to Mooroopna and did a bit of coaching there.”

Yze would have more Goulburn Valley League heartbreak as Mooroopna lost to Shepparton United in the 2011 grand final.