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.
1. Scott Thompson
Thompson's career with the Demons began on a flyer, crowned Melbourne's best first-year player having debuted at 18-years-old. Subsequent injuries halted Thompson's progression, struggling to return to the first team and eventually requested a trade to South Australia to be with his unwell brother. Melbourne received pick 12 in the National Draft, leading to the selection of Nathan Jones.
Thompson kicked 27 goals in his first season with the Crows and by 2007 finished equal 7th in the Brownlow with 18 votes.
In 2011, Thompson won Adelaide's best and fairest and polled the second most disposals in the league, including 51 touches against Gold Coast, falling two possessions short of Greg Williams' 53 touch record.
Thompson followed up his historic season with an All-Australia selection, a second Best and Fairest and a fourth-placed finish in the Brownlow.
Thompson announced his retirement in 2017, ending his illustrious career with 308 games (39 Melbourne, 269 Adelaide) and 155 Brownlow votes.
