2023 Player Reviews: #4 James Harmes

[Demonland 64,805]

Date of Birth: 5 October 1995

Height: 186cm

Weight: 86kg

Games MFC 2023: 9
Career Total: 152
 
Goals MFC 2023: 1
Career Total: 78
 
Games CDFC 2023: 10
Goals CDFC 2023: 6

Harmes was a Demon fan from birth and it was a lifetime dream fulfilled when the Tooradin youngster was rookie listed in late 2014. He was an integral part of the 2021 flag team but slowly fell out of favour with the selectors. At season’s end, he transferred to the Western Bulldogs after nine seasons at the club.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,150]

Had a really poor year.

Started 2022 in great nick getting 20+ touches and a goal a game but has gone backwards ever since.

Became a genuine liability in his final games for the club. Think of the two first quarter elementary set shot misses against Richmond, and then being unable to execute a 20 metre pass to a loose teammate close to the boundary line in Hobart.

Needs to be a tagger ala 2018 or somehow re-create himself as a permanent medium forward as he is a natural goal kicker when he has confidence.

[Dee Dee 1,043]

He will always be remembered fondly for that handball steal from Smith and subsequent kick to Fritsch in the 3rd quarter of the 2021 grand final. And that set up the momentum for the rest of the game IMHO!

 

[DeeZone 7,709]

1 hour ago, Dee Dee said:

He will always be remembered fondly for that handball steal from Smith and subsequent kick to Fritsch in the 3rd quarter of the 2021 grand final. And that set up the momentum for the rest of the game IMHO!

 

Yes Dee Dee as Max said that kick to Fritsch in the 3rd Qtr was the best and most influential in James career.

[WalkingCivilWar 31,427]

 

[Deebauched 1,219]

21 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Yes Dee Dee as Max said that kick to Fritsch in the 3rd Qtr was the best and most influential in James career.

I will go back to THAT kick by Lever to Max infront of Geelongs wall of defenders in the last round at the cattery. The ball had to go exactly where it ended up or likely no mark no goal no win.

The oldest players in the Geelong side knew we were going to win the flag. You could tell by their body language when they mingled with the dees players. Winners respect winners.

Geelong knew.

[Cranky Franky 1,486]

Sadly lost his mojo in 2023. Stopped hitting the scoreboard & seemed to lose his aggression & niggle.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,580]

15 hours ago, Deebauched said:

I will go back to THAT kick by Lever to Max infront of Geelongs wall of defenders in the last round at the cattery. The ball had to go exactly where it ended up or likely no mark no goal no win.

The oldest players in the Geelong side knew we were going to win the flag. You could tell by their body language when they mingled with the dees players. Winners respect winners.

Geelong knew.

I recently re-watched the last 45mins of that game in Geelong and James Harmes contribution to that win is somewhat underrated and unnoticed.  He didn't do the most silky things, but he was in it everywhere contesting the ball, laying tackles, generally getting involved in the play in positive ways and not giving up when the game looked gone.  He wasn't the only one, but seemed to me to be one of the main culprits, along with guys like Gus, Gawn, ANB, Oliver etc.

Guys like that can be a pretty important part of the fabric of the team.  It was sad seeing his deminished form this season.  It would have been nice for him to be a one club player, but I wish him all the best at the Bulldogs.

At least he racked up 100+ with us and hopefully we are still his spiritual home for a potential future father son/daughter.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[poita 3,573]

I was certainly disappointed to see Harmes go. Clearly he had some off field issues this year that affected his on field performance, and the coach lost confidence in him pretty quickly.

I think his best football is still good enough to play quality football at AFL level, and I am concerned about our midfield depth, but I don't blame him for wanting a change of scenery.

[Deebauched 1,219]

1 hour ago, poita said:

I was certainly disappointed to see Harmes go. Clearly he had some off field issues this year that affected his on field performance, and the coach lost confidence in him pretty quickly.

I think his best football is still good enough to play quality football at AFL level, and I am concerned about our midfield depth, but I don't blame him for wanting a change of scenery.

True, but theyre simply not good enough to get a regular game.

Weideman Pruess. Hannan Hunt JJ Harmes Omac Dyson even Bedford.

With the possible exception of Bedford  and Hunt at a bottom slops team they'll mostly struggle at their new clubs.

Edited December 11, 2023 by Deebauched

[BAMF 3,787]

I was really disappointed that he wasn't in form this year. He was consistently battling it out for that 24th or 25th spot in our best 22 with Jordon. His non selection seemed to get the better of him and he lost his way towards the end of the year. 

It's a shame as I firmly believe we wouldn't have lost the Collingwood final if a) Brayshaw didn't get subbed out in the first quarter b) we selected a sub capable of impacting the game. An inform Harmes could have made a difference. Alas... It wasn't to be. I don't know if it was attitude or injury that contributed to his form, but I feel that this year was the one that slipped away from us.

(There were many other reasons why we lost that game and many other what ifs. The points I mentioned earlier are just a few things that didn't go out way that day).

He will always go down as a demon legend for his role in 2021 for me.

Edited December 12, 2023 by BAMF

[JJJ 505]

I loved him but I don’t think it was any secret that he and a couple of others were seen as net negatives with their off field lifestyles.

Shame, he was great with fans of all ages at club functions and worked his backside off to get where he is now.

As mentioned his kick to Fritsch in the GF was top shelf.

[Deebauched 1,219]

19 hours ago, JJJ said:

I loved him but I don’t think it was any secret that he and a couple of others were seen as net negatives with their off field lifestyles.

Shame, he was great with fans of all ages at club functions and worked his backside off to get where he is now.

As mentioned his kick to Fritsch in the GF was top shelf.

I recall Harmes being MIA on a few occassions and the club said it was for personal reasons.

Thats an annoying limp excuse.

What was he doing?

[Demonstone 19,105]

If the reasons were personal, that means they were private.

In other words, it's none of your business or my business or anybody else's business.

[Deebauched 1,219]

12 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

If the reasons were personal, that means they were private.

In other words, it's none of your business or my business or anybody else's business.

Well now he's out of business.

With us anyway.