James will be 28 with 150+ games at the start of next season, his last in contract with us.  He might snare a 3 or 4 year contract elsewhere at the end of this year whereas he will probably be looking at year on year with us from 2025 onwards.  We'd probably trade him cheaply to ease his path, free some cap and provide more opportunities for younger players.

If we can refresh the list with someone who is going to be better than Harmsey then okay, otherwise, IMV, we actually don't bat very deep in our midfield.

Sure, we might have a few more guys roll through there now, but with Clarry a touch and go proposition for Monday, our midfield would be very ordinary.

He's obviously not Clarry's A++ grade, but few are, and bringing Harmes in to replace Clarry if he doesn't get up is a much better move than Laurie.

If Harmes isn't on the list next year, we'll really need a ready to go mid. JJ leaving (if he does) will also exacerbate this.

Just putting this out there.  Only 2 matches and pressure acts stat can be a bit of a fluffy one so not getting too carried away...

 

Edited April 22, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

21 hours ago, A F said:

If we can refresh the list with someone who is going to be better than Harmsey then okay, otherwise, IMV, we actually don't bat very deep in our midfield.

Sure, we might have a few more guys roll through there now, but with Clarry a touch and go proposition for Monday, our midfield would be very ordinary.

He's obviously not Clarry's A++ grade, but few are, and bringing Harmes in to replace Clarry if he doesn't get up is a much better move than Laurie.

If Harmes isn't on the list next year, we'll really need a ready to go mid. JJ leaving (if he does) will also exacerbate this.

No-one can replace Oliver and Petracca, add in Viney and that's out "A-team"

We have Brayshaw, Sparrow, Harmes, Jordon and Dunstan as ready-to-go in the next echelon.

This year we've introduced regular best 22 players Rivers and Pickett to the midfield mix and we've got Laurie and Woewodin developing at Casey.

I agree that the depth seriously lacks the A-team's class, but it's a decently long list of "good players".

Unless there's a solid block of multiple injuries in the Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Rivers, Pickett set then Jordon is going to continue to get limited opportunity and will be gone at the end of the year, and he's competing with Harmes.  If we lose him and Harmes, we would probably want to extend Dunstan and that would still give us 7 players in the depth chart outside the A-team.

I think our draft hand, with a little help from Freo, is going to put us in a strong position to acquire some real A-grade midfield class and that's where I'd like to see us go after taking JVR with our 2021 first pick and the Jefferson, Adams and Verrall last year.  As someone said elsewhere we don't need more "good players", we need A-graders.

Look Harmes is a better player than Dunstan and Dunstan is OOC this year and Harmes is next year - maybe that's the exit path of least resistance.

 

Edited April 22, 20231 yr by old55