Melbourne captain and ruckman Max Gawn says "you've got to grow up in the world of footy" after he farewelled close mates and premiership players Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca.
The Demons have placed a fork in the ground, entering a new era under Steven King, who was named as Simon Goodwin's replacement.
Petracca and Oliver were both contracted until at least the end of 2029, but have flirted with the idea of joining rival clubs in recent years.
In 2025, they got their wish.
The 2021 Norm Smith medallist was traded to Gold Coast for three first-round picks, among other selections that switched hands, while the Oliver departure to GWS helped free up salary cap space.
Speaking on Triple M Rush Hour with JB & Billy, Gawn touched on their exits.
"Trac's (Christian Petracca) a star and we would have loved to keep him, but if we were able to get a pretty good deal, which three first round picks - a Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Curnow-esque type deal, including two under 10, yeah, it's a really good deal for both parties," he said.
"Clayton is probably the definition of wanting a fresh start. Like, if you looked at Clayton Oliver, and I'm as close to him as anyone, you go, geez, a fresh start would be nice for him.
"I didn't think about it when I first, when it first got pitched to me. And then you sit there for a while, and you go, you know, what a fresh start would be pretty good for Claz.
"So that I'm really excited for, and I hope we win it, but I hope Clary's in there, Brownlow medal night with a Brownlow around his neck, and he changes his luck around as much as that, I'll be his number one supporter."
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From Melbourne's 2021 triumph over the Western Bulldogs, 10 players are either wearing different colours or have retired, which, as Gawn put it, is a reality in the sport.
"I think you've just got to grow up a little bit in the world of footy, that it's not a forever thing," he added.
"We're quite the minority that we have so many people that have stuck together for a long time, and it was always going to come to an end.
"And we've had premiership players that moved on, Luke Jackson, James Harmes, James Jordan, these sort of guys, and we're still very close to them. I'm still very close to Harmes, I still talk to Luke Jackson most days."
Despite losing Petracca and Oliver, as well as Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne), Judd McVee (Fremantle), they were able to bring in Max Heath (St Kilda), Brody Mihocek (Collingwood), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn) and Jack Steele (St Kilda).
