These changes included the addition of experienced and key position players from other clubs such as Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, Chris Dawes, David Rodan and Cameron Pedersen.
The 2013 season for Melbourne turned out to be disastrous to such an extraordinary magnitude that they required a complete refurbishment of their board and football department.
Fan backlash resulted from this enormous loss and the next week on 9 April, Melbourne made the decision to sack their CEO Cameron Schwab.
[13] After a week of team bonding in Sorrento, Melbourne appeared to have turned around their form in Round 3 against West Coast, only trailing by 10 points at half time.
However, by the time West Coast kicked consecutive goals in the second half, Melbourne would again shut down and eventually get hammered by 94 points.
This came after Melbourne nearly conceded a 44-point lead midway through the final quarter by allowing the Western Bulldogs to kick the last 7 goals of the game.
Debut(s): Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Viney, Matt Jones Debut(s) for MFC: Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), Tom Gillies (Geelong), Cameron Pedersen (North Melbourne), David Rodan (Richmond/Port Adelaide) Milestone(s): Lynden Dunn (100th AFL game), Jack Viney (1st AFL goal) Brownlow Votes: Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide) 3 votes, Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide) 2 votes, Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide) 1 vote Record: 0 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws Ladder Position: 18th Substitutes: Sam Blease Mitch Clark
As a result, many Melbourne personnel who were part of the Jim Stynes-led board or football department originating back to 2008 either resigned or were dismissed from their positions.
However, they received a $500,000 fine as the employers of the General Manager of Football Operations Chris Connolly and former Melbourne senior coach Dean Bailey, both of whom were found guilty in the investigation.
[20] On 10 April 2013, four days after Melbourne's 148-point loss against Essendon, Cameron Schwab was asked to leave from his position as CEO after he originally had his contract renewed for a three-year term from 27 August by Don McLardy.
[25] On 3 June 2013, after a marathon scheduled board meeting in which Mark Neeld was speculated to be sacked from his role as Melbourne senior coach, Peter Jackson announced his findings from his first month as operating CEO of the club.
[27] On 14 June 2013, Peter Jackson and Don McLardy made a plea to the AFL to receive emergency funding in order to reshape the entire board and football department on the condition that they provided a detailed plan that would be strictly carried through.
This included the removal of several key personnel, the prevention of Jeff Kennett's campaign as Melbourne president from becoming successful and the prevention of Stephen Dank's alleged text message to Melbourne's Football Department as part of Essendon's drug scandal from having any immediate impact on the funds received.
[29] On 17 June 2013, Peter Jackson announced the immediate termination of Mark Neeld's role as Melbourne senior coach only eighteen months into his three-year contract.
On 12 July 2013, former West Coast player and Bernie Naylor Medallist Glen Bartlett joined the Board of the Melbourne Football Club.
[36] On 16 August 2013, Glen Bartlett was appointed as the new president of the Melbourne Football Club defeating a bid made by former Victorian Treasurer Alan Stockdale.
[38] On 9 September 2013, Neil Craig announced his intentions to leave the club as he had no new place on Paul Roos' new football department.
[39] On 2 October 2013, former CEO of VicSport Kate Raffey joined the board as well as former Melbourne footballer Jeremy Nichols on 1 November 2013[40][41] On 10 October 2013, Chris Connolly had his contract terminated despite signing a two-year extension earlier in the year in order decrease the overall cost of Melbourne's management structure.
[42] Melbourne's horrendous season of poor on-field form, tanking investigations, contract terminations, payouts and complete football department/board restructuring meant that they recorded a net loss of $1,700,000.