James Harmes

[dazzledavey36 49,418]

Personally I want him back i to the midfield. Felt like he really got us going when he was moved back into his natural position. I can see the need to put him down back to give us run, but if it means we can fit Lockhart in there for that same role then i am all for Harmesy to be playing around the midfield.

[hardtack 10,158]

Harmes is your meat and potatoes kind of player, and I think is far more suited to a midfield role.  Lockhart’s creativity, pace and kicking, is something the backline could do with... but at who’s expense? 

[Damo 3,030]

I think with Salem, Lockhart and probably Rivers and Hore coming through, we can accommodate Harmes in the mid field.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,465]

Midfield.

Remember the days of late 2018 when he was getting 25-30 touches in the midfield while restricting the oppo’s gun midfield. He got back to back BOGs or near BOG in the GWS and Geelong Elim final.

I predict he’ll have a slightly down season if he plays a full year in the back line. But hopefully he’s the sort of team player that would be happy to play in any position.

[58er 5,676]

1 minute ago, hardtack said:

Harmes is your meat and potatoes kind of player, and I think is far more suited to a midfield role.  Lockhart’s creativity, pace and kicking, is something the backline could do with... but at who’s expense? 

Yes great question. Not Any of the talls Omac Maysie and Jake if the 3 are necessary as in Round 1.

On exposed form Hibbo is the one under pressure. However Have the Selectors Got the balls to make a change?

Or is JayL in the 22 which seems the answer. Would be a good match up for Ryan who may be a bit quick for Jets or Salo. (Am I underestimating them?)

 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

Midfeild and forward would be my preference, but so long as Harmesy can handle being thrown around different positions a bit, it might be a very handy thing to have up our sleave to throw the opposition off ballance in the middle of a game if we can shift him around a bit.  Was very effective against the Hawks on Friday.

It's also possible that he will adapt further to playing back and go on more aggressive attacking moves at the right time.  Will be interesting to see if he develops further in the role once he has a stable team of May, Lever, Salem, Jetta, O Mac, Lockhart, Hibbo around him and they develop some cohesion together.

I think it's also fairly apparent from some of Goodies comments in the latest eppisode of To Help and Back, that he doesn't view possessions as king, that playing a role for the team is more important and I certainly see sense in that team first mantra as well.  So long as we are winning with Harmesy down back, I think all and sundry will be happy.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

He has played his best football as a midfielder who can stop an opponent while also being damaging the other way.  So, in that instance, you can easily argue he is of more use to us in the midfield.

However, his move to the half back line still makes some sense.  I think he can give us a strong attacking option from there while also getting a job on their best mid to small sized forward.  I'd love to see him get first crack at Liam Ryan in Round 1 as I think he has all the tools to stop him.

Time will tell, but hopefully if things don't work out too well with his move to half back then they quickly move him back into the midfield rotation.

[58er 5,676]

14 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

He has played his best football as a midfielder who can stop an opponent while also being damaging the other way.  So, in that instance, you can easily argue he is of more use to us in the midfield.

However, his move to the half back line still makes some sense.  I think he can give us a strong attacking option from there while also getting a job on their best mid to small sized forward.  I'd love to see him get first crack at Liam Ryan in Round 1 as I think he has all the tools to stop him.

Time will tell, but hopefully if things don't work out too well with his move to half back then they quickly move him back into the midfield rotation.

Not at the expense of Lockhart being selected.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

I like the thought of the flexibility this could give us and the opportunity to manage the workload of our mids over the course of the season, to avoid burn out.  If the opposition has a damaging mid that we want to contain, then throw Harmesy onto him, but if not then we roll with a different midfeild structure. 

Could also make us much less predictable to play against.   People have also been critical of Goody in the past for not reacting quickly enough in games, but perhaps up until now, he hasn't had the luxury of enough mature, quality players to shuffle the magnets around with confidence.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Wiseblood 24,636]

1 minute ago, 58er said:

Not at the expense of Lockhart being selected.

If Lockhart misses out then it's down to our depth, not because he would deserve to miss out.

Let's say Salem is fit - our back line will have May, Lever, OMac (we will go with three talls), Jetta, Hibberd, Harmes and Salem.  That's at least seven players who will be part of that rotation.  Lockhart would probably be next in line but may have to wait for the opportunity.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

We need as much midfield depth as possible and he plays his best football in the midfield.

Therefore, we should play him in the backline with Fritsch.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Clint Bizkit

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

4 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

If Lockhart misses out then it's down to our depth, not because he would deserve to miss out.

Let's say Salem is fit - our back line will have May, Lever, OMac (we will go with three talls), Jetta, Hibberd, Harmes and Salem.  That's at least seven players who will be part of that rotation.  Lockhart would probably be next in line but may have to wait for the opportunity.

Well that works doesn't it?  Pretty hard to rotate 6 players through 6 positions.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter
Ok, never mind me you are trying to say 8 into 7 doesn't work.

[loges 6,260]

32 minutes ago, 58er said:

Yes great question. Not Any of the talls Omac Maysie and Jake if the 3 are necessary as in Round 1.

On exposed form Hibbo is the one under pressure. However Have the Selectors Got the balls to make a change?

Or is JayL in the 22 which seems the answer. Would be a good match up for Ryan who may be a bit quick for Jets or Salo. (Am I underestimating them?)

 

But Lockhart is slow apparently.

[Lord Nev 13,511]

Backline for now.

His best footy (at least numbers wise) might be better in the midfield, but looking at it from a team perspective rather than a personal performance one, I think we will function better as a team with him in the backline.

It's about roles and team effectiveness for mine, not individual performance.

I'm a Lockhart fan, but let's not get too carried away with his place in the team just yet. Got caught a lot and his disposal wasn't great in the preseason games. I think he will eventually grab a spot in the team, but it possibly won't be this year (would be rapt if it was though).

 

[58er 5,676]

1 minute ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Well that works doesn't it?  Pretty hard to rotate 6 players through 6 positions.

Understand RG but with Lockhart in my opinion (even considering his inexperience ) offers something different ie pace carry and small forward minding capability more than Jets Hibbo Salem and rven Harmsey. Disposal is also an attribute in the speed of delivery being quicker even than Salem

Certainly 7 defenders need to be in the team and that means Salem and Harmes are flexible for mid field or forward rotations.!

[58er 5,676]

8 minutes ago, loges said:

But Lockhart is slow apparently.

BS whoever came up with that needs his or her eyes checked !!!

[Ohio USA - David 107]

39 minutes ago, 58er said:

Yes great question. Not Any of the talls Omac Maysie and Jake if the 3 are necessary as in Round 1.

On exposed form Hibbo is the one under pressure. However Have the Selectors Got the balls to make a change?

Or is JayL in the 22 which seems the answer. Would be a good match up for Ryan who may be a bit quick for Jets or Salo. (Am I underestimating them?)

 

I understand your comments but in 2019 Hibbo averaged K 13.25 HB 8.36 M 5.28 and Disposals 21.69... Last game against Hawthorn I felt he was definitely one of our better players. Don't forget he has a wealth of experience too.

Lockhart has surprised everyone and I feel he will get better. Harmes to the Centre and that allows Salem to come back into the HB 

What do you thin ?  and if they go with this who goes out ???

Hard decision 

[dazzledavey36 49,418]

43 minutes ago, 58er said:

Yes great question. Not Any of the talls Omac Maysie and Jake if the 3 are necessary as in Round 1.

On exposed form Hibbo is the one under pressure. However Have the Selectors Got the balls to make a change?

Or is JayL in the 22 which seems the answer. Would be a good match up for Ryan who may be a bit quick for Jets or Salo. (Am I underestimating them?)

 

I was thinking Lockhart to play on Petraculle or however you spell it.. will match for speed but also be able to run off and give drive as Petraculle doesn't have a defensive bone in him.

[dazzledavey36 49,418]

21 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

We need as much midfield depth as possible and he plays his best football in the midfield.

Therefore, we should play him in the backline with Fritsch.

Harmes for me tags Shuey or Kelly if playing midfield.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

Harmes for me tags Shuey or Kelly if playing midfield.

Agreed, he seems to excel playing on the opposition's best players.

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

I'd argue that Harmes is our most complete midfielder. Very good defensively, strong overhead, good pace, decent skills. Reminds me of Elliot Yeo (obviously Harmes isn't quite at that level at this stage).  A real testament to our recruiting team - I couldn't for the life of me see how he'd become a best 22 player in his first couple of years. 

On paper, his skill set should translate well to the half backline, but I thought the same with Fritsch theoretically. I'd leave him in the midfield. 

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,349]

Mid for mine. He is that little bit more balanced inside and outside so adds to the dynamic. It also allows us to retain one of him or Viney in the mid rotation as a defensive first stopper. A rotation of Viney and Harmes, as well as a rotation of two of Petracca, Brayshaw and Oliver at all times is what I would be targeting.

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by big_red_fire_engine

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Midfield if there is space, otherwise half forward where he has a very strong pair of hands. I personally don't see it working out at half back.

[Diamond_Jim 12,054]

Interesting to consider that after delisting JKH, Stretch and Maynard our midfield depth is quite thin.

[Deecisive 1,663]

Sorry I disagree i think we need to thing strategically and to the future. Be prepared to move players around and be more versitile. Fritsch into defense, maxxy rover, Viney  rucking, and Oscar ruckrover.  if that does not earn us first pick in this years draft then nothing will.