No Harms in trying: Our number 60's journey to a contract 

08/08/2023

After an impressive debut game for the Zebs last year, Matt Harms got a taste for footy at VFL level: but, left without a contract for the 2023 season, his determination to achieve his goals has been arguably more impressive than his four-goal haul at DSV Stadium. 

Most of us would remember his impact in that game against Williamstown in the final round of the 2022 season. 

‘The first half was a bit scary and I didn't touch the ball too many times,’ he admitted.

But after heading into the second half with a plan to get his hands on the ball a little more, Harms managed to find himself on the back of not one, but four second-half goals. 

‘I was pretty happy with that. It was actually Sam Dunell's last game in his VFL career, which was amazing to play in as well because he's a VFL legend and has won a few premierships. That was a good day.’

Riding the wave

Fast forward to the impending due date for 2023 contracts, and despite his fairytale end the year before, Harms was still waiting for the final word from Head Coach, Jake Batchelor. 

'I had a few foals set for my time trials and a few gym goals, which I achieved, so then it was just training and hoping a contract would come by,’ he reflected, ‘it got closer and closer to the due date and Batch told me at one of the last trainings that I wasn't going to be getting a contract at that stage.’

‘It hurt - a lot of hard work, which I thought was down the drain.’

Harms sure did put in the hard work, cracking down to complete a full pre-season and also taking the opportunity to train amongst AFL-listed players;

‘I just wanted to change it up and get a sense of what they do in the off season, which was pretty cool.’

After that, he shifted his focus to pre-season down at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, ensuring he set himself goals to improve both his strengths and weaknesses. 

Despite not securing a contract initially, he committed to the Zebs as a train-on:

‘I’m not a bloke to give up on my dreams, so I kept training, kept doing the right thing - rocking up early as I usually do. Helping out, doing extras, all of that kind of stuff.’

‘Because I'm older (now), I tried to work on a few things - I got a lot fitter than I've ever been, which showed in my time trials and my pre season running. I did do extra stuff, it was just unlucky I didn't get a contract at the start of the year.’

Sure enough, as the old adage goes, ‘hard work pays off’. Despite his initial disappointment, Harms’ commitment both during the pre-season and throughout the beginning of the season did indeed land him a contract.

Back on the list

It wasn’t until the 6th of June rolled around that Harms finally got the news he’d been waiting for. 

‘It was a number of weeks ago, on a Tuesday night, that I was told. Vess (Will Vesely) and I actually got told we were going to get contracts which was pretty cool. The same night, I found out I was going to play my first game of the year, which was even cooler.’

So, on the back of his hard work, Harms packed us bags and headed up to Sydney - accumulating ten disposals and a goal whilst scoring in every match he’s played since then.

‘I've never been to Sydney before, so that was even cooler.’

He almost got a win that day, and after another close game to draw with Brisbane, Harms admitted he would have loved to be a part of a win this year. It was a different story, though, on that fateful day against Williamstown, with his strong four-goal performance influencing the Zebs’ forty-point win. 

How did he find himself here, though, in the yellow, black and blue? 

Harms’ journey to the Zebs 

He began his journey at the Ormond Football Club, playing with them from the time he started Auskick all the way until under 14s. 

‘I moved to Beaumaris [after under 14s] just to play a bit higher level of footy and play with a few more mates,’ he said.

After playing under 15s, 16s and 19s with the club, Harms moved up unto the seniors and continues to play there when he’s not at Sandringham. 

‘Through the early stage of my career, playing interleague, the first year I was an emergency for the under 13 side and then in under 14s I was a vice captain, which was pretty cool.’ 

After that, Harms tried out for the Sandringham Dragons and made the squad. 

‘I played one game out of three which was pretty cool. I then made the list in both of my years with the Dragons, so bottom and top age.’

Unfortunately for Harms, like many others, his bottom age year was cancelled due to COVID restrictions.

‘We only really had like, maybe four games, so the season was pretty much cancelled,’ he said. 

His top age year was even more disrupted - playing about four games once again until the season became disrupted for six weeks due to COVID. 

‘We went back for a couple of games and then we were off again. I ended up playing two games in my top-age year. I played in Tassie, and then played down here against Oakleigh - after that, it all came to an end.’

Draft night, mates, the Zebs and inspiration 

Following that, Harms was able to witness his mates get drafted into the AFL;

'It was pretty cool being with them on draft night and then celebrating with them afterwards.’ 

Harms was then rewarded with his own opportunity, getting invited down to Sandringham two years ago. 

‘It’s my second year now,’ he said, ‘I didn't know what I would expect coming down to a VFL side.’

Following two COVID disrupted years, Harms was apprehensive about his preparedness;

‘I was a bit nervous coming up against bigger boys. But my brother's girlfriend's brother, Riley Virtue, plays [with the Zebs]. So, I sent him a text and he helped a bit - he made me feel a lot more comfortable when I came down.’

Harms had nothing but good things to say about his teammates and the culture at the Zebras, too, noting that ‘no one [has] a big ego’ and lauding how welcome they made him feel. 

‘There were a lot of new boys who made the list that year,’ he said, ‘and I was one of them, so I was pretty happy about that too.’

‘I would have loved to play a few more games [last year], as everyone would have. But I wasn't really expecting much, just to train at a good speed and pick up some things to take along my journey.’

It was through his hard work during that season that he was able to become a pivotal player in that final round. 

‘I think it’s just not giving up,’ he said when asked what advice he would give to other train-on players. ‘There's list spots there for a reason, and the coaches will use them if they think that you're up to it.’

He emphasised the importance of Tuesday training, being the only session train-on players attend, and the impact of showing the coaches what you can do within these sessions.

‘It's just sticking to what your role would be at Sandy and going back to local footy and just playing that role, playing to the team values and respecting what your local coach wants. Batch and all the coaches have always said they really listen to local coaches’ feedback, so just go back to local and perform well, but also perform to a VFL standard.’

He expressed his gratitude for his local club, Beaumaris, who have been ‘really understanding of where [he] wants to get to and what [he] needs to do to get there.’ 

Highlights and future thinking 

Harms’ role in that game at DSV Stadium encouraged him to keep going and to push towards his dreams;

‘It kind of gave me a thought in my head that I'm good enough to play at this level. I showcased in that game, against a good stand-alone club, that I can perform at the level and play on people that may have played on an AFL list before or played a few VFL games. It motivated me to want to push myself a little bit more.’

‘I'll never, ever forget my first game here. And getting on the end of a few was a pretty good feeling, too.’ 

The fact that it was Dunell’s last game was also a highlight for Harms, who felt privileged to share the field with someone who was ‘such a role model around the club and even just as a person to chat to.’ 

Harms also reflected on the draw against Brisbane in round fourteen, noting that it would have been a huge highlight if we had clinched the four points;

‘It would have been very good, because they were top of the table. We came in [strong], even Batch said that he knew that we were on that day. We just let it slip. It would have been a really good feeling, because they had a lot of AFL boys - a couple of big names - so it would have been a very good feeling to win one.’ 

Following his rollercoaster ride with the Zebs so far, Harms is happy to keep doing him and working hard to achieve his ultimate goal.

‘Obviously I’d love to play a few more games [with the Zebs this year], if I get the opportunity.’

In terms of his football goals, there is still one huge driving factor;

‘I've always had a goal to reach the highest level, it’s one I’ve had from a very young age. To see your best mates playing at AFL and playing very well - some of them are injured at the moment, but to see them there kind of motivates me even more.’

'I got to play one of them in a practice match two weeks ago against Casey, which was pretty cool. A couple of them are interstate, so I don't get to watch them much, but a couple of them play at Saints as well - Mitch and Marcus. I grew up playing footy with them, so it's pretty cool seeing them play for the same kind of club, with Sandy being their reserves.’

In terms of the rest of the year, Harms is looking forward to the possibility of making finals with Beaumaris and ‘getting that ultimate success.’

‘I know we've got a good chance this year [at Beaumaris], so it'd be a dream to win the Premiership there.’

‘I still have that goal to make the highest level I can, which is AFL, and I'll keep working towards that until I feel like I can't really do any more.’ 

As well as seeing his mates play, Harms has been inspired by current draftees who have been picked up as mature-age players.

‘If you look at Tim Kelly, he nearly won a Brownlow in his second year of AFL at the age of 26. So, I’ve always [stayed true] to my aspirations to make the AFL.’ 

Harms’ efforts and commitment to his train-on role, and then to his contracted position, has been amazing to watch and the Zebras are lucky to have him around the club in both an on-field and off-field sense. 

It has been a strong year for Harms since securing his contract, scoring a goal from every game he’s played. 

His commitment and endeavour is a testament to his character and epitomises the values of the Club. 

Written by Chloe Williams - Sandringham FC Media