'Final nail in the coffin': How Demons went from cusp of a dynasty to disaster in four years

Just over four years ago, Melbourne held up the premiership cup, winning their first flag since 1964. They were crowned as the clear dominant team of 2021.

It truly felt like the start of what would be a run of dominance. Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney, Jake Lever, Kysaiah Pickett, Luke Jackson; the Dees' stars were all well under 30 and primed for a potential dynasty.

But now, here we are on the eve of the 2026 season and 10 of that premiership 23 are gone. Drought-breaking coach Simon Goodwin is gone. The Dees are suddenly in a completely new era.

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May's retirement on the eve of the season feels like the final nail in that coffin, ending what has been a bizarre fall from grace for the Demons following their moment of triumph.

The 34-year-old key defender has been embroiled in off-season turmoil for more than a year now. New coach Steven King even suggested he attempt to find a new home in the trade period, though nothing eventuated.

And King has certainly been busy in his first summer at the helm. He similarly pushed four-time club best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver to depart in the trade period.

Unlike May, the 28-year-old was successful and now finds himself a key cog in GWS' midfield.

Like May, Oliver has been embroiled in issues away from the field across the last few years, stemming from mental health troubles.

He was the subject of heavy trade speculation for two straight years, before it finally eventuated in 2025. It has been a tumultuous saga for club and player, and the scarring left behind is clear for all to see.

Then there's Christian Petracca, who now finds himself a Gold Coast Sun, 12 months on from requesting a trade out of the club.

The man who won the Norm Smith Medal for the Dees on that fateful day in 2021, spent over a year clearly trying to get out of the club.

And it's hard to blame him, following the drama that stemmed from his season-ending injury in 2025, which included being sent back on the field and a near-death experience in hospital.

May, Petracca and Oliver combined for 10 All-Australian blazers at the Demons and became pillars of the club, alongside captain Max Gawn and coach Goodwin.

Now, all but the skipper are gone following dramatic turbulence spanning multiple years.

But it's not just them. Angus Brayshaw was the heart and soul of the premiership run. A star midfielder accepting a lesser role for the betterment of the team, and performing at an outstanding level.

He retired at the end of 2023 before even turning 30 after an ongoing battle with concussions. A hefty bump from Collingwood's Brayden Maynard in that year's qualifying final was his last moment as a Demon.

The turnover from that premiership team has been beyond what anyone could have predicted. You'd be within your rights to suggest some sort of curse or deal with the devil was behind the collapse.

While it's not uncommon for a team to make such change in a four-year period, the fact this was such a dominant premiership team, with stars mostly locked in long-term and in their mid 20s, makes this such an unexpected future to be in.

Alex Neal-Bullen requested a trade to Adelaide at the end of 2024 for family reasons, James Jordon left for Sydney at the end of 2023, Luke Jackson for Fremantle in 2022 and James Harmes was traded to the Bulldogs in 2023.

Michael Hibberd and Ben Brown, meanwhile, retired and actually finished their careers as Demons.

Following on from the 2021 premiership, Melbourne started the 2022 season 10-0. They were undefeated and looked prohibitive flag favourites once again.

And if your theory revolves around some sort of Demon deal with the devil, clearly that was the moment the contract expired.

May and forward Jake Melksham would get into a drunken fight during a club dinner at a fancy steak restaurant in Prahran. The former allegedly told Melksham "If you had have played in the (grand final) we would have lost".

They would never play in another winning final.

From 10-0 to start 2022, Melbourne would win just six of their last 12 games to close the season, finishing second on the ladder.

They lost home finals to Sydney and Brisbane and were bounced in straight sets.

One year later, they found themselves in the top four again. They lost to Collingwood by seven points in the qualifying final before kicking 9.17 in a two-point loss to Carlton the next week.

And they haven't been back to September action since.

They finished 14th in consecutive seasons, 2024 and 2025. They sacked Goodwin before the end of the 2025 campaign - less than four years from the ultimate glory.

And now here we are, on the eve of 2026. An almost entirely different group is now ready to start from scratch.

They've brought in Caleb Windsor, Koltyn Tholstrup, Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay, Xavier Taylor and Latrelle Pickett all with top 15 picks across the last three drafts, showing they have been incredibly proactive in recharging this group.

Despite the wealth of experience that's gone out the door from the 2021 premiership team, the Dees have brought in savvy veterans to bolster the group, like Collingwood's Brody Mihocek, former St Kilda captain Jack Steele and ex Bulldogs ruckman Tom Campbell.

And now, with May's retirement on the final Sunday before the 2026 season, a completely new era dawns at Demonland. Maybe this group can undo the 'curse' and return to the top of the mountain.