James Harmes Biography

James Harmes requests a trade from the Demons to the Bulldogs.

Melbourne midfielder James Harmes selflessly tried to sub himself off late in the Grand Final win against the Western Bulldogs in order to give teammate James Jordon some game time.

Jordon was the medical sub for the match, and he didn't make it out onto the field in the Demons' 74-point win at Optus Stadium.

But if Harmes had his way, Jordon would have been subbed into the game with about five minutes to go.

"Harmsey was trying to have a little cramp there just so I could get on at the end," Jordon said.

"He was just trying to get me on the ground. There was only five minutes left, but it didn't end up happening."

James Harmes will miss six weeks after undergoing surgery for a broken wrist sustained against Fremantle.

Already contracted for 2020, James Harmes signs a four-year contract extension with Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2024.

Harmes averaged 24 disposals and four clearances in 2019, playing all 22 games.

"I've got a lot of faith in 'Goody' (coach Simon Goodwin) and my teammates around me, so it was a pretty easy decision for me," Harmes said.

"I grew up a Melbourne supporter too, so to sign a long-term deal – I'm just really excited and can't wait to get stuck into the year."

Max Gawn wins the best-and-fairest award of his career, capping off a stellar 2018 season for the Demons.

Gawn, 26, polled 657 votes to take out Melbourne's best and fairest at Crown Palladium, beating last year's winner Clayton Oliver (595) and the much-improved James Harmes (468).

"I gave myself a goal at the start of the year, and it was a bit of different goal for me, and it was to have no excuse," Gawn said.

"In 2017 I had a terrible season by my own standards. Yes, I tore my hamstring off the bone, but was that because I wasn't as fit as I was in 2016? Was that because I didn't put the work in? Did I slack off in weights? Was my diet not right?

"What happened at the end of the 2017 season hit me pretty hard and I didn't want to have a season like that again."

James signs a new two-year deal with Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

"We've been speaking (about a new contract) since the start of the year and it probably took a little bit longer for both of us to get the right deal," Harmes said.

"I didn't consider any other options, even though my manager spoke to a few other clubs. I wanted to stay as a Dee, as I was a Melbourne supporter as a kid."

AFL umpire Jordan Bannister takes to Twitter to admit he made a mistake during the Hawks' clash with Melbourne.

Bannister concedes he paid an incorrect free kick to Hawk Kade Stewart after the debutant ducked into a James Harmes tackle during the fourth quarter of the game, with the scores level.

The decision created widespread discussion on social media, but the experienced umpire nipped the issue in the bud by acknowledging via his Twitter account that it was a "s*** free".

"We average a couple of errors a game & always try to learn from errors," Bannister tweeted.

AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy says he was surprised by Bannister's decision to publicize his mistake.

"It was great he was able to do that (and) stop the conversations that were going on," Kennedy said.

"We do make a fair few mistakes each week, so we don't want the (umpires) every time we make a mistake to tweet out that 'I apologise'.

"We don't want to make a habit of that, but I'm happy with it."

James Harmes signs a new two-year deal to remain at Melbourne until at least the end of the 2018 season.

Two years ago Melbourne told James Harmes to lift his professionalism or else he would find himself looking for other employment opportunities.

In a stark career-turnaround, the more mature 20-year-old is now the round seven nominee for the 2016 NAB AFL Rising Star award.

Harmes gathered a career-high 26 disposals and kicked three goals as the Demons thrashed Gold Coast by 73 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening.

"When I got to the club I was still living as an ordinary 18-year-old kid," Harmes said.

"I didn't really understand how professional I had to be as an AFL footballer.

"When it was really close with me staying on the list it really hit home I needed to lift my professionalism by doing the extras and working harder.

"It was really good to have that pressure on me because it's turned me into a better footballer and now I'm reaping the rewards of hard work."

James Harmes will be upgraded to Melbourne's senior list in 2016 after agreeing to terms with the Demons to extend his contract by one year.

"He provides us with some flexibility. He has the attributes to play through the midfield but also his marking ability makes him a dangerous option as a forward," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said of Harmes.

"He plays a style we want to play. He is hard at the ball and competitive."

James Harmes makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at the MCG with 9 disposals (3 kicks and 6 handballs) and 3 tackles in a 9-point loss to Essendon.