James Harmes (VIC – Mid)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 05/10/1995
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Style: 
Player comparison: 
Range: Late - undrafted
Profile: Harmes is an aggressive midfielder who inside the contest really attacks the ball hard on the inside and will go in for it. He’s got above average pace and can also at times push forward and take a mark.

 

#47 North Melbourne – Jay Kennedy-Harris (VIC – Fwd/Mid)Height: 173cm, Weight: 68kg, DOB: 21/03/1995
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Style: 
Player comparison: Andrew Krakouer
Range: 25-55
Profile: Small forward who has shown this year that he also has the ability to push up through the midfield and find the footy easily and be an effective two way player with his tackling particularly impressive. Kennedy-Harris’ point of difference is in his ability to sidestep with numbers around him and generate time and space for himself easily to be able to dispose of the ball effectively. He’s got a nice skillset both with his ability by hand and foot. Also has above average straight-line pace to go with his ability allowing him to break away from congestion at times and take on the game. Regardless of this improved midfield ability my vision with Kennedy-Harris is as a forward first who can rotate into the midfield as required. Kennedy-Harris is as natural a crumbing forward as you’ll ever see. He gets to the right positions consistently and knows where to position himself to get those balls that come to ground and will constantly go front and square in front of the contest. One touch with all his touches and a clean user of the footy. He also has a really nice tendency to release by hand or foot at the last second as he gets tackled and can still execute. Excellent finisher around goal and a guy who could fit into a forwardline pretty easily. 

 

#9 Melbourne (Via GWS Activated Compensation) - Christian Salem (VIC – Mid/Fwd) 
Height: 183cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/07/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Luke Hodge 
Player comparison: Taylor Hunt (with better footskills)
Range: 6-12
Profile: Midfielder with a real physical presence and physical style of playing. I also really enjoy Salem’s tackling game, he just hunts the man and you can see he really enjoys it, and he does big damage every time he lays a tackle and it’s a real feature of his game. When it’s his turn to go he goes, whether it be a marking contest where he knows he will get crushed or going for the hard ball he will put his head over it and just go for it. He also does some really impressive work at times with some good blocking or bumps on or off the footy where required and just has that hard edge you love to see. He plays a good two way game running both ways and also stopping his direct opponent or playing a shutdown role as required. His footskills are above average and he hits his targets and can at times do damage, particularly when within range from goal. He’s also effective when he pushes forward and is a goalkicking midfielder. Also has above average pace, but regardless of this will run and carry the footy and cover ground with ball in hand when the opportunity is there showing relatively good pace also. He’s more outside than inside at this stage and the next step will be to develop that inside game. I’d class Salem as a guy who screams “component of a winning team” without projecting as a particularly elite individual talent. I also have some questions about how much development is left with Salem an early bloomer having been roughly the same height and size for a few years now.

 

#5 Gold Coast – Kade Kolodjashnij (TAS – Util)
Height: 188cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/08/1995
Recruited from: Launceston
Style: Robert Murphy
Player comparison: 
Range: 3-7
Profile: Kolodjashnij is a high production outside player with some versatility to his game and can play back, wing or forward well. Kolodjashnij is an effective linkup player who reads the play well and has a smart running game. He’s a good user of the footy by hand and foot and can do some damage with his left boot particularly impressive with that class, vision and hurt factor he displays with the penetration he has and ability to kick it to where the guy up the field wants it, he’s just not so comfortable on his right side. He’s also an excellent run and carry player and can at times break the lines. He’s also excellent in the air with his marking ability strong and behind play can read it well and take his share of intercept marks. He has a nice agile sidestep and can create more time and space for himself with ball in hand. At this stage he has a very thin build and can struggle defensively and in 1v1 contests. He almost certainly will always remain an outside type but a high production guy who can do some damage. Tested exceptionally well at the draft combine which has increased his draft stocks.

 

2. Melbourne - Jesse Hogan (WA – KPF)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 97kg, DOB: 12/02/1995
Recruited from: Claremont
Style: Jonathan Brown
Player comparison: Jack Darling (Bigger version)
Range: 1-2
Profile: Strong contested marking forward and is a real presence and target you can kick to. Also has excellent ability to take a 1v1 mark and this seems a real feature of his game. Reads it well in the air and off the players boot. Has the ability to crash packs and bring it to ground and seems to enjoy the
physical side of the game. Physically developed for his age and already a very high level key forward. By foot is a good field kick and can find a leading target. Will need to work on set shot goal kicking routine – just doesn’t look as fluid as you’d ideally like to see and as a result his set shot goal kicking seems to suffer. Has the ability to become a franchise key forward.

I understand Knightmare watches alot of under 18s footy, but I do take him with a grain of salt at times.

Like fair dinkum hes compared Salem to Taylor Hunt who was an absolute spud with horrific foot skills.

In saying that he does have a good eye for talent..

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I understand Knightmare watches alot of under 18s footy, but I do take him with a grain of salt at times.

Like fair dinkum hes compared Salem to Taylor Hunt who was an absolute spud with horrific foot skills.

i found those descriptions very good. I would disagree with salem being above average pace. he is not. he is slow. apart from that I thought they were spot on.

 

Goes to show how far Harmes has come. being a diligent worker with a note pad at hand has worked wonders for him. I reckon Stretch is the same mentally and won't be surprised if he takes it to a new level soon.

 

 

I'd hardly say Kennedy-Harris is "as natural crumbing forward as you'll see".

Knightmare is ok, but there are better out there. 

Nailed this part on Hogan

 

Will need to work on set shot goal kicking routine – just doesn’t look as fluid as you’d ideally like to see and as a result his set shot goal kicking seems to suffer. 

 

I will miss Jessie but not any part of when he was lining up for goal

Edited October 19, 20186 yr by Bates Mate

The Salem description is near on perfect, especially the positives for his tackling, the little blocks and bumps off the ball and courage at a contest.

JKH has moments where he'll look like a star crumber. Anyone who saw the Casey game in the wet where he was the best player by a street will agree with that. But has never looked strong or quick enough to be a deep forward. Still has the good movement in traffic and ability to make quick decisions on his day. 

Hopefully KK can start to fulfil his potential.

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The Salem description is near on perfect, especially the positives for his tackling, the little blocks and bumps off the ball and courage at a contest.

JKH has moments where he'll look like a star crumber. Anyone who saw the Casey game in the wet where he was the best player by a street will agree with that. But has never looked strong or quick enough to be a deep forward. Still has the good movement in traffic and ability to make quick decisions on his day. 

Hopefully KK can start to fulfil his potential.

Kennedy-Harris was great in the wet and his clean hands when others fumbled a standout, but he's hardly ever shown he's this incredible crumber.  Certainly not at AFL level, where he's better up the ground than in the forward line. 

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

Kennedy-Harris was great in the wet and his clean hands when others fumbled a standout, but he's hardly ever shown he's this incredible crumber.  Certainly not at AFL level, where he's better up the ground than in the forward line. 

Oh yeah, he's not even close to someone like Jeffy yet alone a champ like Betts. I get the feeling Knigthmare watched a game or games where he had a few nice crumbs and went with it. Still apart from that line I think it's an accurate profile. KM might not be the best judge but I think he does get the vibe of a player pretty well.