COACH-IN-WAITING Adem Yze has departed Hawthorn to return to his playing roots at Melbourne.

Yze's been a man in demand since the Hawks' season finished, with Adelaide – the club he interviewed at for the senior coaching role last year – also inquiring about his services.

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However, the 43-year-old wanted to remain in Victoria for family reasons and will instead join the Demons, where he's a life member, played 271 games, earned All-Australian honours and won a best and fairest.

Yze spent nine years working at Hawthorn, where he was most recently in charge of match day strategy and opposition, and has also completed his Level Four coaching accreditation.

That's a specialist role Melbourne has largely lacked since Craig Jennings' exit at the end of the 2019 season.

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"I'm really excited to be back at the club, but more importantly, I'm excited to be working alongside 'Goody' (Simon Goodwin) and the coaching staff," Yze said.

"'Goody' and I have got a strong connection and I see us as a really good fit together.

"I believe it's an exciting list that can go places, and I'm looking forward to bringing what I've learned along my coaching journey to the club.

"I've loved my time with the Hawks, but the opportunity to grow in a different role, with different coaches, was something that was really enticing to me." 

Yze is the second assistant coach to move elsewhere, with Scott Burns joining Adelaide.