Nice story about one of our big improvers in James Harmes.

Melbourne fans would notice a change in James Harmes this year.

The hard-at-it Demon is still as tough as they come but he’s been doing it more consistently in 2018.

Following a pre-season where the 22-year-old didn’t miss a session, it’s the second pre-season in a row where he’s done everything — Harmes has dropped a bit of weight — which has seen him slide into a midfield role so far this season.

READ MORE: Confidence is key for young Dee

I must admit young James has (very pleasantly) surprised me the past three or so weeks.  Certainly cemented his spot at least for now.

Well done and keep it up 

2 hours ago, monoccular said:

I must admit young James has (very pleasantly) surprised me the past three or so weeks.  Certainly cemented his spot at least for now.

Well done and keep it up 

I'm only suprised his start to the year was so mediocre, but then he wasn't alone there either.  I think the asertion of improved confidence leading to improved performance could equally apply to the team as a whole.  Again something which I think has been generally universally applicable to both Harmes and the team is that whilst the confidence and form wasn't there early on, the work rate was and eventually that will translate into performance.

On an individual level the other that has really got his mojo back in the last two games after weeks of toil is ANB.  Noticed he was our only player wearing a black arm band on Sunday, which he acknowledged a few times after kicking goals and I wounder if there was some close family/friend that was doing it tough and providing an additional personal stress outside football that was inevitably impacting his onfeild performance.  We expect our players to be super professional elite performers, but at the end of the day, they are venerable human beings just like the rest of us.  ANB certainly seems like a high quality individual, full credit to him for the way he carries himself and condolences for the loss he has suffered.

Love Harmesy and the bullish way he plays.  A number of people on this forum predicted he would be one of our big movers this year and looks like that might be ocuring at the moment.  Without being disrespectful, he is exactly the sort of second tier/lesser widely rated player we need to step up another notch for the team to push further up the ladder.  So much harder for the opposition to keep all of Viney, Oliver, Jones, Brayshaw and Co. in check if a Harmes, ANB, Hannan, Melksham pops up and demands equal attention.

Whilst Harmes may not be the most tallented player on our list, the talent is definitely there and what he might not have in natural skill and flare, he more than makes up for in endevor.

Edited May 21, 20186 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

4 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I'm only suprised his start to the year was so mediocre, but then he wasn't alone there either.  I think the asertion of improved confidence leading to improved performance could equally apply to the team as a whole.  Again something which I think has been generally universally applicable to both Harmes and the team is that whilst the confidence and form wasn't there early on, the work rate was and eventually that will translate into performance.

On an individual level the other that has really got his mojo back in the last two games after weeks of toil is ANB.  Noticed he was our only player wearing a black arm band on Sunday, which he acknowledged a few times after kicking goals and I wounder if there was some close family/friend that was doing it tough and providing an additional personal stress outside football that was inevitably impacting his onfeild performance.  We expect our players to be super professional elite performers, but at the end of the day, they are venerable human beings just like the rest of us.  ANB certainly seems like a high quality individual, full credit to him for the way he carries himself and condolences for the loss he has suffered.

I believe it was his grandfather who passed away

At the start of the season he was best 22 by a small margin.

His work and form has seen him cement his spot. He isn't first in line to be dropped if we have a loss due to his tireless work and effort.

Players like Harmes win you premierships.

I guess the cleché line that Goodwin and the coaches would be repeating is that we play to a system and that consistent performance will come when the players have confidence in the system rather than in their ability on an individual level.  I think that when this happens we will turn the corner from being a good side to a great one.  Players certainly do still need to have confidence on an individual level, but if the side relies too much on individual brilance through players being in form and full of confidence, then we will be in for a rocky road as all players go through form slumps, confidence dips and have bad days.

I guess Harmes is probably half way there, because he was still a contributor earlier in the year through tackling pressure and agression at the contest, when his personal form wasn't at it's peak.  Probably also still need a critical mass of players having confidence in their personal ability to execute for the team too as well as having confidence in 'the system', which was probably lacking whilst our back six got use to playing together with the arrival of and reforming caused by Lever.

Harmes looked like a proper footballer as soon as he was selected for the Dees. It was just a matter of development. Continuous development, actually. If he can keep getting better he will cement his spot in the 22 and become an important AFL player.

3 hours ago, Adzman said:

At the start of the season he was best 22 by a small margin.

His work and form has seen him cement his spot. He isn't first in line to be dropped if we have a loss due to his tireless work and effort.

Players like Harmes win you premierships.

He is a driven, Melbourne player; tough as nails, works hard and is a solid improver. Terrific in a utility role and does not shirk the responsibilities of maiming opponents. 

Which is exactly what we want and why we got rid of watts his face.

 

Edited May 22, 20186 yr by Fork 'em

I liked the way Harmes got up in front of Jed Lamb on Sunday after Lamb had given Hibberd a bit of curry.  Just went up and chested him as if to say. " get the hell away from my teammate "

That's what I want to see a Melbourne player do. 

1 hour ago, pineapple dee said:

I liked the way Harmes got up in front of Jed Lamb on Sunday after Lamb had given Hibberd a bit of curry.  Just went up and chested him as if to say. " get the hell away from my teammate "

That's what I want to see a Melbourne player do. 

So you're saying Harmes returned the favour and gave Lamb some curry?

We're definitely into Masterchef season now.

Well, I've gone right off what Carlton were cooking so curried Lamb will be just the ticket

Harmes has been one of my favorite players the last few seasons. I thought he starting building up form well last year. Has always had the hard edge as one of our most physical players but has added polish and the game seems to have slowed down for him this season (similarly to Brayshaw) he's one of a few players we have that doesn't panic in a tackle and knows how to get his arms free and wait for the right disposal. He's a solid mark too.

I've always been a fan, he's hard at the ball takes a good mark and is quite quick, his game against GWS at Etihad in there last round of the season a few years ago showed he could play. His in and under work against Carlton was excellent

I cracked it with him in a game earlier this season as he was terrible but so was the rest of the side.

He's in the category of player that always gets mentioned as trade bait but I doubt the club would me of that mind, he's a lifelong Dees supporter so that's the added bonus for him and us.

 

2 minutes ago, Dante said:

I've always been a fan, he's hard at the ball takes a good mark and is quite quick, his game against GWS at Etihad in there last round of the season a few years ago showed he could play. His in and under work against Carlton was excellent.

Similar thinking.

While it was Tyson that was dropped to bring in Viney, I think it is Harmes who has ousted Tyson from the starting 22. In addition to the traits you mention Harmes is very good as a run-by and link up player, has a bit of aggro and as he says in the article above he is now being tackled and caught HTB less often.  Tyson really has one string to his bow: in and under work, so he may find it very hard to get back into the team.  Harmes has gone past him in the same role. 

I recall an interview with Harmes when he came off the rookie list onto the seniors and he said something like 'I know I'm a fringe player but I'm going to give it my best shot'.  It would be true to say that now he is not a fringe player nor is he depth - he is a bona fide starting 22.

Well done, he is doing it the hard way.  His determination and hard work is paying dividends for him.

12 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Similar thinking.

While it was Tyson that was dropped to bring in Viney, I think it is Harmes who has ousted Tyson from the starting 22. In addition to the traits you mention Harmes is very good as a run-by and link up player, has a bit of aggro and as he says in the article above he is now being tackled and caught HTB less often.  Tyson really has one string to his bow: in and under work, so he may find it very hard to get back into the team.  Harmes has gone past him in the same role. 

I recall an interview with Harmes when he came off the rookie list onto the seniors and he said something like 'I know I'm a fringe player but I'm going to give it my best shot'.  It would be true to say that now he is not a fringe player nor is he depth - he is a bona fide starting 22.

Well done, he is doing it the hard way.  His determination and hard work is paying dividends for him.

One of the problems with increased depth is the loss of soldiers who were there when we were really bad, I feel for Dom and that photo of him behind the team last Sunday says it all.

I think you're right and Dom will have to reinvent himself if he is to continue as a regular, I don't know if he can do that but I hope he can.

 

4 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

I liked the way Harmes got up in front of Jed Lamb on Sunday after Lamb had given Hibberd a bit of curry.  Just went up and chested him as if to say. " get the hell away from my teammate "

That's what I want to see a Melbourne player do. 

This is what I want to see ALL of our players do.