James Harmes

Selected by Melbourne in the rookie draft from the Dandenong Stingrays, James Harmes forged a career defined by versatility and a relentless contested edge. While he initially entered the system as a defender, he blossomed into a vital utility for the Demons, capable of playing as a lockdown tagger, a ball-winning inside midfielder, or a high-pressure half-forward. His breakout 2018 campaign saw him finish top three in the club's best and fairest, largely due to his ability to completely nullify opposition stars while hurting them the other way. This selflessness became a hallmark of his time in red and blue, culminating in his role as a premiership player in 2021, where his aggression and two-way running were critical components of the club's drought-breaking flag.

Despite his premiership heroics, the sheer depth of Melbourne's engine room eventually squeezed Harmes out of the senior rotation, prompting a trade to the Western Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season in search of regular midfield minutes. While the move to the Kennel provided a fresh start, his stint at Whitten Oval served as the final chapter of a career built on grit rather than flair. Whether deployed to shut down an opponent or extract the ball from a stoppage, Harmes is best remembered as a "heart and soul" operator who maximized every ounce of his potential to reach the summit of the game.