THERE’S only one thing better than being drafted by an AFL club for a young footballer. And that’s being selected by the team that you barracked for growing up.
In James Harmes’ case, his dream was not only realised when he was the second player claimed in Wednesday’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft, but the cherry on top came when he was picked by the Demons – literally the team he loved and still does.
You see the 18-year-old comes from a passionate Melbourne supporting family and save for three siblings – who are now likely to be converted to the red and blue – the family couldn’t be more thrilled, as he explained.
“Growing up as a kid supporting Melbourne and then actually getting on their list is pretty crazy for me and my family and all of my friends as well. I’m pretty ecstatic,” Harmes told melbournefc.com.au.
“My whole family basically follows Melbourne, except my three siblings – my sister and two brothers, who go for Brisbane.
“My older brother went for Brisbane and then my two other siblings jumped on board, but I think they’ll be jumping on the Melbourne train now.”
Harmes said he cherishes his first recollection of supporting the Demons as a youngster.
“My earliest memory of barracking for Melbourne was sitting with my pop – Pop [Lawrie] Brick, who is my mum’s dad – and watching the footy with him. That’s probably the fondest memory I have of him.”
An aggressive, hard-at-it midfielder, who thrives on the contest, Harmes said he was “really disappointed” when he was overlooked in the NAB AFL Draft. But he was optimistic about his prospects entering the Rookie Draft.
“I hoped I could get picked up [in the rookie draft], but I wasn’t too sure. I had a couple of clubs interested in me – I thought Geelong or North Melbourne might take me. When I found out it was Melbourne, it was pretty cool,” Harmes said.
“I was actually sitting at home by myself and I wasn’t expecting too much. I just had my fingers crossed and hoped for the best. I had the laptop on and then I saw that my name went to Melbourne at pick two and I couldn’t believe it.
“I got straight up and rang Dad, who was at work and told him. He was nearly crying on the phone. My Mum was out walking the dog, because she was too nervous. When she came home, I told her and gave her a big hug and smile and it was pretty special actually.”
Harmes said he knew recent draftees Jay Kennedy-Harris and Christian Salem through football and was eager to build a close relationship with fellow former Dandenong Stingrays star and leader Nathan Jones.
“I wouldn’t say I know Nathan Jones, but I’m pretty good friends with Zak Jones, who I know from the Stingrays and is Nathan’s little brother,” he said.
And as for his immediate aims, Harmes simply wants to make the most of his opportunity in 2014.
“I’m just going to try and get through the pre-season without any injuries and attack next year head on and see what I can do,” he said.
