Shepparton’s Adem Yze and Steven King have gone head-to-head as senior AFL coaches for the first time, as the pair’s clubs battled it out in the traditional Anzac Day Eve clash.
It’s the first time two Shepparton exports have coached against one another in the head position of an AFL club.
The Shepparton High School alumni - who were just one year level apart when attending - have moved from the kicking the pigskin on Deakin Reserve, to sharing the turf at AFL level 14 times across their respective playing careers, to now sitting in opposing coaches boxes as head coaches.
King’s men in red and blue would romp to a 54-point victory over Yze’s Tigers, which have struggled to be competitive thus far in 2026, remaining as the only winless team in this year’s AFL campaign.
Melbourne, on the other hand, have made a stark turn in form from its seven-win 2025 season, claiming its fifth victory on Friday night to situate it inside the top four at the close of the round.
However, King and Yze weren’t the only notable Shepparton figures at the ‘G on Friday night.
Ex Royal Australian Armoured Corps officer Jeremy Smith, who lit the eternal flame in the pre-game ceremony, is another Shepparton-raised man.
Smith’s father Chris coached Mooroopna to back-to-back Goulburn Valley League flags in 1985 and 1986 following 163 career VFL games for Fitzroy, but Smith would serve as an officer in the Australian Army for over eight years.
While Smith lit the cauldron on Friday, he spent the days in the lead up at Richmond telling his story to the football club.
“For all the people that have served and the incredible sacrifice they’ve made, always thank them for their service,” Smith told Richmond Media.
“Anzac Day is a time for reflection for the great mateship and things we’ve achieved, but also to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and aren’t here any more.”
Mooroopna’s Tom Brown also featured for the Tigers and was among their best with 24 disposals and nine intercepts.
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