Brent Moloney won Melbourne's best and fairest and 19 Brownlow Medal votes in Dean Bailey's final season as coach in 2011, but was soon on the outer under the new regime of Mark Neeld, being dropped twice and finishing the season in the VFL.
The inside midfielder used free agency to find his third AFL home, the Brisbane Lions, and has been a more than solid performer.
It was probably no coincidence that his best performance for his new club was in his first clash with Melbourne on Sunday at the Gabba.
In his 150th AFL game, Moloney was as purposeful, vigorous, and effective as ever in amassing 36 possessions (16 contested) and 10 clearances (six from centre bounces) – along with the maximum 10 votes in the AFL Coaches Association's champion player award – to pilot the Lions to a 28-point win.
With Brisbane's games-record-holder Simon Black yet to play this season, Moloney has at least partly filled the void.
This season he is averaging 25 touches (12 contested), and hasn’t dropped below 21. The 29-year-old has also had at least 10 contested possessions in each game.
Another former Demon undergoing a resurrection is Brock McLean, who was adjudged equal best-afield with Carlton teammate Andrew Walker in the Blues' win over Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday.
Two days earlier at the same venue, Essendon star David Zaharakis further strengthened his already folkloric connection with the Anzac Day game after a brilliant 34-disposal, four-goal extravaganza – an effort that received a perfect 10 from the coaches.
Next best was skipper Jobe Watson, who might well be on track to become the first player since St Kilda champion Robert Harvey to win successive Brownlow Medals.
Watson leads the AFLCA award by five votes from Port Adelaide gun Hamish Hartlett.
Not even the most one-eyed Power fan could have forecast that after five rounds their team would be undefeated and boast three of the top six players in the coaches' award.
In addition to Hartlett, Justin Westhoff and skipper Travis Boak are also figuring prominently.
The AFL's ultimate swingman, Geelong's Harry Taylor, shares fourth position with his skipper Joel Selwood after receiving maximum votes for a five-goal game against the Western Bulldogs.
Hawthorn genius Cyril Rioli tore a hamstring and North Melbourne hearts with a 10-vote game, while Kangaroo defender Scott Thompson was also recognised after keeping superstar Lance Franklin goalless.
Essendon v Collingwood
10 David Zaharakis (Ess)
8 Jobe Watson (Ess)
3 Jake Carlisle (Ess)
3 Michael Hibberd (Ess)
3 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
2 Tom Bellchambers (Ess)
1 Jason Winderlich (Ess)
St Kilda v Sydney
10 Dan Hannebery (Syd)
5 Lenny Hayes (St K)
5 Nick Riewoldt (St K)
4 Luke Parker (Syd)
3 Kieren Jack (Syd)
3 Josh Kennedy (Syd)
Fremantle v Richmond
9 Luke McPharlin (Frem)
8 Jonathon Griffin (Frem)
5 Ty Vickery (Rich)
4 Hayden Ballantyne (Frem)
2 Dustin Martin (Rich)
1 Brandon Ellis (Rich)
1 Chris Knights (Rich)
GWS Giants v Gold Coast
10 Charlie Dixon (GC)
8 Gary Ablett (GC)
6 Jaeger O'Meara (GC)
2 Tom Lynch (GC)
2 Devon Smith (GWS)
1 Jarrod Harbrow (GC)
1 Callan Ward (GWS)
Carlton v Adelaide
9 Brock McLean (Carl)
9 Andrew Walker (Carl)
3 Richard Douglas (Adel)
3 Kade Simpson (Carl)
2 Andrew Carrazzo (Carl)
2 Jeff Garlett (Carl)
2 Mitch Robinson (Carl)
Western Bulldogs v Geelong
10 Harry Taylor (Geel)
5 Corey Enright (Geel)
5 Liam Jones (WB)
4 Steven Motlop (Geel)
4 Steve Johnson (Geel)
1 Daniel Cross (WB)
1 Tom Liberatore (WB)
Port Adelaide v West Coast
10 Hamish Hartlett (Port)
6 Luke Shuey (WCE)
6 Chad Wingard (Port)
4 Travis Boak (Port)
2 Jake Neade (Port)
2 Scott Selwood (WCE)
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne
10 Brent Moloney (Bris)
8 Dayne Zorko (Bris)
3 Matthew Leuenberger (Bris)
3 Sam Mayes (Bris)
2 Jack Grimes (Melb)
2 Andrew Raines (Bris)
1 Shannon Byrnes (Melb)
1 Tom Rockliff (Bris)
Hawthorn v North Melbourne
10 Cyril Rioli (Haw)
8 Andrew Swallow (NM)
6 Daniel Wells (NM)
2 Shaun Burgoyne (Haw)
2 Scott Thompson (NM)
2 Jack Ziebell (NM)
LEADERBOARD
35 Jobe Watson (Ess)
30 Hamish Hartlett (Port)
27 Justin Westhoff (Port)
23 Joel Selwood (Geel)
23 Harry Taylor (Geel)
22 Travis Boak (Port)
21 Grant Birchall (Haw)
21 Kieren Jack (Syd)
20 Nathan Fyfe (Frem)
20 Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
20 Andrew Swallow (NM)
