Early in the season he was arguably not in the best 22 and depth at best. Was way too inconsistent.

Has turned it around big time in the second half of the year. Would be in the first handful picked every week now.

19 minutes ago, Sigil said:

We still have a young team, and you see Harmes over the last quarter of the year....

How tough is he?  And still only 22 and had a broken hand just a few weeks ago. Geez our midfield is exciting.  Should be together for next 7 or more years.

13 minutes ago, rpfc said:

That kick to Kent for the sealer was just emblematic of his growing maturity.

Excellent.

Pretty much. He's always been able to get the ball and to run with it. But in years prior those kicks have gone blazing towards goal. 

It's very nice to see a player develop on the flanks, work on their weaknesses, maximise their strengths and then perform when required.

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

Had a great year.

100%

Has gone from a liability when the heat was on to a real weapon and dependable player in big games.  He’s gone to a level I didn’t think he was capable of and I think there’s still room for improvement there.

I owe him an apology.

All this reminds me of 1987 when the likes of Harmes - Newport, Yeats, Williams and Eishold -  stood up and announced themselves. I think we could be in for something good in 2018.

I reckon he has fed off Clarry and wants to best himself like Oliver has done. Go Dees!

Should be said: Harmes was also one of the few who consistently dug deeper in our close ones last year.

I think he is now our second most important midfielder. Particularly as he has the ability to influence the game while shutting down one of the oppositions best. Will be crucial in finals.

He's so composed, something we desperately need.

I can now use Harmes to explain to my girfriend what people mean by 'depth', 'fringe', 'best-22', and 'among the first picked', just by pointing to his progress this year. Useful educational resource, he is.

Becoming one of my favourites. Love his enthusiasm and toughness. Never stops trying.

Has been a Dee supporter all of his life. He is really living the dream and I hope he has a long successful career with us.

James Harmes  is  very underrated although he was consistent at times, his disposals with hand and foot were just average. However he is quick and now for some reason or another his last month has been elite to the extent where having not only tagged but nullified players in the calibre of Dangerfield and Ablett in separate quarters.He also put Sloan to the sword which helped us beat the Crows.

 l rate him high and is important a player as Brayshaw, Petracca  and Clarry are to our team makeup and as a midfielder.  

Magnificent in 2nd half of season - going to get better and better also

Gus is widely acclaimed as our most improved this year and rightly so but my word Harmes has just been immense. Such a big rap for the no.4! Can’t even remember him without that number now ?

I had my reservations about Haemes, but the last 6 weeks has showb me how wrong I was. He has formed part of a strong (and young) midfield with Max, Clarrie, Gus. They all work very well together beit taging clearing or protecting one another. He has been on of my arguments against the chasing of Big targets, because there is so much improvement available in this team .

They are playing with a degree of confidence in each otherand that is showing in the way they all are improving. I bet the Coaching staff cannot get the smiles off their faces ,because they are the ones who have developed the cohesion and compatability of our playing group. There is still rom for improvement as there is in any side. When you consider the current Premiers early last year, they were carrying some B- players but have developed them in side their club. Maybe it is a model.

When you consider that today we had Viney, Lever & Hoges out who we would all of them as our A graders. I f this was a year ago we would have really struggled woithout them.

The thing that typifies harmes improvement is how many times he is breaking tackles. 12 months ago he was the guy repeatedly getting caught and pinged for holding the ball. Just seems to be so much stronger on his feet

Dare say it would be out of Salem and Harmes for most improved, has come a long way Harmsey.

11 minutes ago, demonoid said:

The thing that typifies harmes improvement is how many times he is breaking tackles. 12 months ago he was the guy repeatedly getting caught and pinged for holding the ball. Just seems to be so much stronger on his feet

Very good point. Has become seriously explosive in the De Goey mould, his kicking is getting better too

31 minutes ago, layzie said:

Gus is widely acclaimed as our most improved this year and rightly so but my word Harmes has just been immense. Such a big rap for the no.4! Can’t even remember him without that number now ?

It's hard to rate how Gus was before this year because he didn't get a clean run at it for so long. Now that Gus is injury free he's doing what he was born to do. Harmes was in a crossroads place at the start of this year, no one could actually say what his best position was because he was playing a bit of everywhere. Now that he's gone into the guts tagging opposition runners, with runs in the forward line he's found his place in the team.

He set up Kent for the 2nd last goal and it was everything that he's become; he controlled the ball from the smother, kept calm, and delivered well.

Edited August 19, 20186 yr by Pates

Brilliant season and has taken another step forward since we lost Viney. 

Must be so happy to play finals for the team he grew up supporting. 

Has become a fantastic player. Huge part of our clubs future.

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Gone from a C+ to an A in about six weeks.

Incredible season he's had.

ooh, hang on...  B+. 

he's not there Yet.   more to give.

I’ve said it previously, but our best starting midfield is presently Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes. Who would have picked that at the start of the year?

He’s had a great year. He is where he is because of hard work, without the god given talents others have. Great stuff.