But even by Simon Goodwin’s standards, these were some bold positional moves.
To try and save Melbourne‘s season against Richmond last night, Goodwin swung his out-of-form spearhead Tom McDonald back into defence and broke-up the brilliant young onball unit we have spent the past year raving about.
For the most part, the McDonald move worked.
The big man blanketed Richmond key target Tom Lynch and kept him to only one goal and four marks for the night as part of a back line which held Richmond to 12 goals overall.
But if Goodwin was previously having nightmares about his defence over the past five weeks, it’s the forward line which would have kept him wide awake all last night.
They only kicked six goals for the night, Melbourne, and to be fair, the 43-point margin probably flattered the Demons.
Melbourne just never looked dangerous moving into attack, their connection was poor again, and now their finals hopes are hanging by an early-season thread.
Whenever the Demons went long and high inside 50m, Richmond always seemed to have men back, and coverage, to mop up.
It was some game by Nick Vlastiun floating across in defence.
Certainly, Melbourne fans are now shifting uncomfortably about the thought of Jesse Hogan kicking snags at Fremantle while new full-back Steven May tries to recover from a groin injury. He could still be more than a month away, May.
It’s hard to know what Goodwin does know about Sam Weideman, in particular, and Christian Petracca, two of the Demons most exciting young prospects, who last night failed to manage a goal, and had only 18 touches between them.
Regular goal kicker Jake Melksham was moved up into an onball position, Nathan Jones dropped back from wing to defence, Angus Brayshaw pushed out to a wing and Michael Hibberd ventured into the centre square to keep a close check on Dustin Martin.
That also worked as Hibberd kept Martin relatively quiet, with 17 possessions. Clayton Oliver also started at full forward and spent large chunks of the game lurking in attack.
But what now, Goody, to fix the forward half?
For the second week in a row, the coach might be looking to pull another rabbit out of his hat against Hawthorn.
But time is running out.
Recap the action from our live blog below.
Updates
Jay Clark
It’s not good when a team gets routed playing for their season.
But this was ugly in the last term for Melbourne as the Tigers skipped away kicking five goals to one in the last 30 minutes.
Liam Baker looks like a real find for the Tigers and Sydney Stack was given half a standing ovation when he went to the bench in the final term.
Jack Riewoldt went downstairs to get his knee checked and, in a huge worry for Melbourne, Jack Viney was crunched in a Stack bump, hurting Viney’s shoulder.
Nick Vlastuin took total control in the back half for the Tigers and their pressure was once again, excellent.
Jay Clark
It’s not good when a team gets routed playing for their season.
But this was ugly in the last term for Melbourne as the Tigers skipped away kicking five goals to one in the last 30 minutes.
Liam Baker looks like a real find for the Tigers and Sydney Stack was given half a standing ovation when he went to the bench in the final term.
Jack Riewoldt went downstairs to get his knee checked and, in a huge worry for Melbourne, Jack Viney was crunched in a Stack bump, hurting Viney’s shoulder.
Nick Vlastuin took total control in the back half for the Tigers and their pressure was once again, excellent.
Richmond cult hero Sydney Stack says he's playing with 'something to prove' after his supplementary listing by Richmond.
The tough defender produced two of the highlights of the Tigers' 43-point win over Melbourne on Thursday, pulling down a hanger and laying a crunching bump in the last quarter on Demons co-captain Jack Viney.
"I'm just giving my best effort out there and putting my body on the line for the team and just playing my role," Stack said.
"I just feel like I have something to prove missing out on the draft and showing the other clubs how good I am. That's about it really."
Where to now for Melbourne? At 1-5, the finals hopes of one of last year's preliminary finalists are all but over.
For Richmond, which moves to 4-2, the young guns continue to stand up without some of their biggest names.
Liam Baker, Jack Ross and Sydney Stack all stood tall at different times in a 13.12 (85) to 6.6 (42) victory.
Jason Castagna led the way up forward with three goals and Bachar Houli was prolific with 32 disposals.
Where to now for Melbourne? At 1-5, the finals hopes of one of last year's preliminary finalists are all but over.
For Richmond, which moves to 4-2, the young guns continue to stand up without some of their biggest names.
Liam Baker, Jack Ross and Sydney Stack all stood tall at different times in a 13.12 (85) to 6.6 (42) victory.
Jason Castagna led the way up forward with three goals and Bachar Houli was prolific with 32 disposals.
Kamdyn McIntosh puts the icing on Richmond's fourth win of the season by extending his side's buffer to 37 points with 90 seconds to play.
Richmond has booted 6.9 to 2.4 since halftime, with Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert and Jack Ross its leading ball winners.
Jack Riewoldt will be sweating on the match review results of Richmond's Anzac Day eve clash with Melbourne after a one-arm tackle on Melbourne's Bayley Fritsch.
Riewoldt tackle Fritsch, resulting in a stoppage, before he appeared to hold the midfielder's left arm at an awkward angle behind his back.
"I think he realised, Jack there, it's probably not the right position here and I think he pulled up at the right time," Channel 7 commentator Wayne Carey said.
Richmond has stormed 36 points clear at the MCG and Melbourne is destined for a 1-5 start to 2019.
Jason Castagna's third goal extended the margin and it's party time now for the Tigers.
Channel 7 boundary rider Abbey Holmes is reporting Jack Riewoldt has gone down to Richmond's rooms with a knee concern.
Riewoldt has returned to the Richmond team tonight after a three-week layoff due to a wrist injury.
Meanwhile, a goal to Brandon Ellis has sent the Tigers 24 points clear and within sight of victory.
Jack Riewoldt will be sweating on the match review results of Richmond's Anzac Day eve clash with Melbourne after a one-arm tackle on Melbourne's Bayley Fritsch.
Riewoldt tackle Fritsch, resulting in a stoppage, before he appeared to hold the midfielder's left arm at an awkward angle behind his back.
"I think he realised, Jack there, it's probably not the right position here and I think he pulled up at the right time," Channel 7 commentator Wayne Carey said.
