Richmond has condemned Melbourne to its first wooden spoon since 1997 but on this performance - which summed up the club's miserable season - it will take more than the number one draft pick this November to revive the ailing Demons.
The Demons could have got off the bottom of the ladder with a win on Sunday but despite coming up against a Richmond side with little to play for - after its own finals hopes ended last week - were simply humiliated.
It's hard to believe that just 12 months ago it was Richmond that was in Melbourne's position - after finishing on the bottom in 2007 - but Sunday's 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41) victory with veteran Joel Bowden again starring to cap off his remarkable season - capped off a much-improved year for the Tigers.
With 11 wins and a draw - a huge improvement on last year's three wins and a draw - the Tigers finished the season with a better than 50 percent winning strikerate for the first time since 2001.
That was also the last time the club made the finals but despite the disappointment of again finishing ninth - the sixth time in 15 seasons that the Tigers have finished in that position - finally the club appears to have laid the foundation for future finals appearances.
The Tigers' crop of talented youngsters were at it again on Sunday - easily swatting aside a Demons outfit that from quarter-time onwards played as if they were already thinking of their first beer on 'Mad Monday.'
But just why the Demons would be so insipid in the only game of round 22 that featured two teams out of finals contention is a question that its fans deserve an answer to with the club now at its lowest ebb since winning just one game back in 1981.
Even in the first term the Tigers should have been further ahead - after enjoying 19 inside 50's to just seven - yet led by just four points but a six goal to one second term put the issue beyond doubt.
And the Tigers dominated despite Matthew Richardson having little impact as he was well held by Matthew Warnock - who has been one of the few positives to emerge from the Demons' horror season.
While Richmond youngsters such as Brett Deledio, Matt White, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and defenders Luke McGuane and Kelvin Moore have improved significantly this season - the Demons' youngsters struggled again on Sunday save for Warnock and Simon Buckley.
And Melbourne's veterans offered little more, except for Adem Yze who deserved far better in his last game than to be on the receiving end of another hiding.
In contrast Richmond's sole retiree of 2008 in wingman Greg Tivendale enjoyed a day to remember as he turned back the clock with a fine performance in only his third senior game of the season.
MELBOURNE: 2.1, 3.1, 4.4, 6.5 (41)
RICHMOND: 2.5, 8.9, 12.10, 18.13 (121)
GOALS: Melbourne: White 2, Green, Whelan, Holland, Sylvia
Richmond: Deledio 4, Bowden 3, Riewoldt 2, Jackson 2, Morton, Tuck, Tivendale, Connors, Foley, McMahon, White
BEST: Melbourne: Warnock, Yze, Buckley, Green
Richmond: Bowden, Deledio, Tuck, Tivendale, Newman, Foley, McGuane, White, Johnson
INJURIES: Melbourne: Sylvia (ankle), Petterd (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil
REPORTS: Morton (Richmond) and Miller (Melbourne) reported for wrestling each other in the second term.
CHANGES: Richmond: Pattison (back) replaced in selected side by Connors
UMPIRES: Margetts, H Ryan, Ellis
CROWD: 37,046 at the MCG
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Joel Bowden - Richmond
2. Brett Deledio - Richmond
1. Shane Tuck - Richmond