If you need further proof, consider the following achievements.
No other player featured in more matches under Daniher. In fact, Yze played in 218 of Daniher's 223 matches. And from round eight 1997 (when Neil Balme and Greg Hutchison were at the helm) through to round one 2007, Yze played a remarkable 226 consecutive matches – second only in VFL/AFL history to the great Jimmy Stynes.
In Daniher's first season, Yze finished second in Melbourne's best-and-fairest and also claimed the most improved award. Two seasons later when Melbourne made the Grand Final against Essendon in 2000, Yze finished third in the club champion, was named in the Victorian Team of the Year and played for Australia against Ireland in the International Rules series.
In 2001, Yze won Melbourne's club champion – the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy – and was also rewarded with Melbourne's most consistent player award. The following year in 2002, he was named All-Australian and finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal. Once again, he represented Australia.
In 2004, he finished third in the club's best-and-fairest award and he also received Melbourne's best team player. In round 16, 2006, Yze played his 250th match, producing an outstanding performance, with five goals and 26 disposals.
Yze was also the competition's leading kick-getter in 2001-02 and 2004, finishing third in 2000. He also achieved three 500-plus disposal seasons in 2000 (534), 2002 (546) and 2004 (514).
Based on these efforts, it's pretty hard to argue with Yze being the most reliable performer during Daniher's reign.
But not only was Yze super consistent throughout these seasons, he was also among the competition's elite in the early/mid 2000s – playing arguably his best football across half-back, with his midfield and forward work also first class.
His ability to create something out of nothing and kick a miraculous goal – not to mention take a spectacular grab (who could forget his hanger over Geelong's Josh Hunt at Skilled Stadium in round 21, 2006) – were among his trademarks.
Melbourne coach Dean Bailey admitted that coaching against the slick Demon in his days as an assistant for Essendon and Port Adelaide was always a difficult task.
"The difficulty in coaching against 'Ooze' was that he could do the absolute spectacular thing when you least expected him to do it," Bailey said.
"There's not too many players in the AFL who can do that often … but over Adem's career, it's certainly been a very difficult thing to stop.
"To play that many games, you've got to be good in that area and you've got to have something that's just a little bit special about yourself and he certainly has that."
Originally drafted from Shepparton United/Murray Bushrangers at No.16 in the 1994 AFL Draft, Yze made his AFL debut against Richmond in round 13, 1995.
He was named Melbourne's best first year player in 1995 and gained an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 11, 1996 after kicking a personal best five goals against Fitzroy – he would boot five hauls of five goals over his career.
Yze's career really started to take off when interim coach Hutchison took over in round 10, 1997 – the third match of his consecutive game streak. From that point, his durability and consistency became a feature and eventually among the best in the business.
Even though he battled form and injury issues in the latter stages of 2006 and early part of 2007, he hit back to achieve career-best disposals against Fremantle in round four last season (38 touches) before a groin injury halted his year.
Although Melbourne's youth push this season has resulted in Yze spending a large portion of the year at Sandringham, he still managed to play last week against Port Adelaide despite a knee complaint, gaining 20 disposals.
On Sunday against Richmond at the MCG, Yze will end his Melbourne career with 271 matches and, currently, 234 goals. Whether he gains another opportunity in the AFL next season remains to be seen, but he leaves Melbourne as its third greatest games record holder.
Only Melbourne greats David Neitz (306) and Robbie Flower (272) can claim more. Yze will also achieve AFL life membership with 300 official AFL appearances.
And like those two Melbourne heroes, Yze, who has also played the most VFL/AFL games in the No.13 guernsey and was named in the club's 150 greatest players this year, will be etched in the club's history as one of its finest.
