These Dees are legitimate.
It's hard to recall a team so quickly becoming appointment viewing after pre-season forecasting had them languishing.
A club so often in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years has discovered a swagger for itself, and it has come from a fun blend of names you'd expect, and names you wouldn't.
When two highly decorated midfielders in Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver headed for the exit in the trade period, questions materialised - and quickly - around who would be attending centre bounces, and maximising the brilliant ruck craft of one of the position's greatest ever proponents, in Max Gawn.
Fans could be forgiven for being less than optimistic when it was revealed that the Demons saw castaway St Kilda Saints veteran Jack Steele as at least part of the solution.
And with genuine key forward presence sorely lacking in recent years, further eye-rolling ensued when Collingwood veteran, the workmanlike Brody Mihocek, swapped the black and white for the royal blue and red.
But what acquisitions they have been!
Steele has rediscovered the form that saw him garner a podium finish in the prestigious Brownlow Medal race, earlier this decade. In a stunning victory over the fancied Gold Coast Suns on Sunday, Steele racked up 18 contested possessions, eight tackles, 11 clearances (five from centre bounce) and seven inside 50s. 26 disposals at 92% efficiency.
He is averaging 25 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances this year.
It's been a genuine rebirth for a player not viewed as necessary in Moorabbin, as the Saints try to buy their way to a premiership.
Mihocek has been a constant threat up forward for the Demons, registering seven goals in four matches, and staying involved in chains, averaging five score involvements per game. His presence frees up teammates, with Jake Melksham and his four goals, yesterday's biggest beneficiary.
Meanwhile, Collingwood can't score.
The Pickett boys are absolutely must-watch. Their toughness, flair and skill execution are sights to behold, and their play seemingly has a positive effect on team morale. There's a joy to these Demons, and it was evident in Sunday's victory, and in new coach Steven King's post-game presser.
"It took a lot to beat a club like that," King said.
"The pressure, the hunt, the intensity, the unconditional run and effort from our playing group is pretty special."
King admitted things are clicking faster than he thought they would when he took a job viewed by some as a poisoned chalice.
"We're still working out who we are, and building our brand and our identity; bringing to life what Demon football is. You're never sure how fast it can click, but to get it to this point, so far (sic) is encouraging.
"I've got an amazing coaching group that believe in their players, and I think now, the players are starting to believe in themselves.
"There was a lot of outside noise at the start of the year, and albeit, we've achieved absolutely nothing by Round 4, but from what I saw over the pre-season, I knew this was a team with some pretty special players, characters and athletes that could challenge, and be hard to play against.
"We want to be a team that can challenge in every phase of the game and be dangerous with and without the ball. I want us to be fun to watch, and I want our players to have fun while they're playing the game."
When asked whether or not he wants fans to start riding the wave, King was philosophical.
"It's not going to be perfect all the time, but I want them to be excited by what they're seeing. Having a team of experienced legends of our club that are still playing, and have won the ultimate (a premiership), and a group of young men that are experiencing things for the first time," he said.
Who knows where this season leads for the Demons, but one thing is certain - V/AFL history is littered with sides who bounced quickly, and in some cases, hoisted a flag. The sky may just be the limit for this infectiously fun outfit.
