Two-club premiership forward calls time; All-Aus star signs mega deal — AFL Daily

Premiership forward James Harmes has announced his retirement.

Plus, Essendon and Fremantle have announced big moves, while Port Adelaide’s chairman has placed a big expectation on the club’s new coach.

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Harmes, a 2021 premiership player with Melbourne before joining the Western Bulldogs in late 2023, on Tuesday told teammates he was retiring, per multiple reports.

The 30-year-old has played 174 AFL games, including 13 last season under Luke Beveridge.

Harmes had been away from the Dogs since Christmas as he dealt with a delicate personal matter.

He was set to enter the final season of a three-year deal, with his now-vacant list spot set to be used in the SSP, which closes on March 2.

The versatile attacker played 21 senior games in 2021 before a combined 31 over the past three years.

STAR DOCKER PENS BUMPER DEAL

Paws off Caleb Serong. That’s Fremantle’s message after he and the club agreed to terms on a mega seven-year extension, per AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

Serong was set to come out of contract and be eligible for free agency in 2027, but the Victorian has passed that up to remain in purple long-term.

It means he’s tied to Fremantle until the end of the 2034 season, in essence making him a Docker for life.

The 25-year-old co-vice-captain has earned three All-Australian nods since debuting in 2020, with the club primed for a genuine premiership tilt this year.

Serong has been one of the game’s most durable star talents, playing at least 22 games in each of the past five seasons.

DONS APPOINT FOURTH CEO IN THREE YEARS

Essendon has appointed its new chief executive, and he is “determined to reclaim” the Bombers’ reputation as an AFL giant.

Tom Roberts was unveiled as the Bombers’ new boss on Tuesday morning, elevating the experienced leader from his role as vice president.

An Essendon statement said the club had conducted a “targeted search and then identified Roberts as the best candidate for the position and to lead the Club forward”.

Roberts, the Bombers’ fourth CEO in three years, joined the board in 2022 and has vast experience in business management.

Roberts said his vision was to reinstate success to Essendon, which has not won a final in over 21 years.

“The platform for success has been created by those who have gone before me and I am proud to take on this challenge and continue Craig Vozzo’s incredible contribution,” Roberts said in a club statement.

“The Essendon I grew up barracking for were league leaders on and off the field, proud of the red and black and seen as a fierce, courageous, confident and bold club.

“That’s my vision for this club and along with Welshy, our Board and leadership, we are determined to reclaim that space.

“Essendon is a club that should be consistently competing for finals and premierships, be embracing and impactful in our community and commercially sustainable.

“During my business career I learned that people are the cornerstone of your success and footy clubs are no different.

“We have terrific talent across our club through the Executive, coaches, staff and playing groups, and our focus is to get the best out of everyone, being galvanised and executing our club strategy.“

The Bombers are also expected to make an on-field leadership change after Zach Merrett’s failed attempt to join Hawthorn in the off-season.

KOCH’S BIG FINALS EXPECTATION

Port Adelaide is embarking on a new era with Josh Carr in charge, but despite finishing 13th last year with nine wins, expectations at Alberton ahead of the new season are high.

“It’s always finals. We banned the word rebuild. Rebuild is an excuse for failure,” Koch told Seven of Carr’s pass mark for the year, speaking at a season launch event on Monday.

“Josh knows that we’re a club that always wants to contend for finals, like so many of the other great AFL clubs – we should be no different.

“That’s always the pass mark, but you’ve got to put the processes in place for success. But we’ve got to put in the behaviours and the processes each and every day at training and every game to achieve the dream and the pass mark to make finals.”

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines had said just days earlier the club had “become a bit stale” in recent years, to which Koch wasn’t entirely receptive.

“Ollie’s a bit harsh, we made a prelim the year before last,” Koch said.

“But look, new head coach with Josh, (Stuart) Dew back, it’s a whole new coaching group, and I think that’s brought a freshness, it’s brought excitement, and I think the players have really appreciated it.”

The Power will open their season against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on March 15.

DEES VETERAN SET FOR SURGERY

Melbourne premiership midfielder Jack Viney is set to undergo surgery on his injured Achilles on Tuesday.

Viney, who’s also been nursing a back issue, has been hampered by a sore Achilles over the summer and is now set to have a procedure to address it, according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

The 31-year-old – who was last month tipped to return to training in February – is now expected to miss a significant period of time, as the Demons’ midfield takes on a completely new look this year.

Jack Steele slots in after crossing over from St Kilda in the off-season, but new coach Steven King and co. will be looking for second-year gun Harvey Langford to take the next step in the guts after Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver departed.

Former midseason draftee Jai Culley was said to be having a strong pre-season in the midfield before his progress was stunted by a fractured arm at training last Friday.

As well as livewire Kozzy Pickett, the versatile Trent Rivers will likely also be relied upon for midfield influence in the early stages of the year.

The Dees kick off their 2026 campaign against St Kilda on March 15.