Melbourne is still looking for their first grand final appearance since 2000, although despite falling one hurdle short in 2018, look to have taken a step back this season.

The Dees are 3-7, and have been a shadow of the side that willed their way to a preliminary final last year.

The club has turned over list after list since 2000, and while many of the decisions they made on players were the right ones, these eight below have certainly come back to hurt them.

6. James Frawley

Prior to exercising his rights in free agency with a move to Hawthorn in 2014, Frawley was named at back-pocket in the 2010 All-Australian side and grew into a key role in Melbourne's improvement under Paul Roos.

Unfortunately for the Dees, Frawley walked to the Hawks and was a premiership player in less than a year's time. Under Alistair Clarkson, Frawley found a reinvigorated position as a defender and became a cog in Hawthorn's three-peat.

Luckily for the Dees, the club was compensated with pick three in the 2014 draft, leading to the selection of jet midfielder Angus Brayshaw.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: James Frawley of the Demons looks upfield during the round 23 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Melbourne Demons at Etihad Stadium on August 30, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)