In the middle of the 1965 season, the wise heads at Melbourne sacked their six-time premiership coach.

The curse of Norm Smith was born, and the Demons went without a premiership for 57 years.

In 2024, three years after they won a drought-breaking premiership in Perth, a curse of a different form descended on the club, one, again, seemingly self-administered.

Christian Petracca suffered serious injuries to his ribs and spleen in the King’s Birthday clash.Credit: Getty Images

There have been court cases, senator statements and sports integrity investigations to keep the spotlight on the club in the past three seasons.

The legal battle between club directors and former president Glen Bartlett remains unresolved, as does the Federal Court hearing on governance issues.

On Monday, a year will have passed since Joel Smith returned an adverse analytical finding on game day for the presence of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine after the Demons’ round-23 match against the Hawks. The investigation is ongoing.

That’s the off-field.

On the field, this season loomed as one of redemption with Clayton Oliver’s issues finally addressed after they baulked at trading him, Christian Petracca set to spend more time forward, and Angus Brayshaw ready to go again after the qualifying final bump that flattened him and the Demons’ premiership hopes.

But Brayshaw was forced into retirement through concussion, Oliver was noticeably happier, but his football declined,........

© WA Today