Geelong Cats: Max Holmes starting to star in midfield role

Young Cats star Max Holmes is revelling in his new-found role in Geelong’s 22, despite the fact he never thought he’d suit the position. Find out why.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Max Holmes of the Cats warms up before the round 17 AFL match between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium, on July 09, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Young Cats star Max Holmes is revelling in his new-found role in Geelong’s 22, despite the fact he never thought he’d suit a position as an inside midfielder.

Holmes, in his third season at Geelong, was initially drafted as a winger with the 20th selection in the 2020 national draft.

But the young gun’s move into the centre square, which he said came as a “necessity”, was a role he was hoping to keep.

“When I got drafted I didn’t exactly see myself as an inside midfielder, but it’s coming along that way and I’m enjoying my time in there,” he said.

Max Holmes is having a career-best year. Picture: Daniel Pockett

“When I was in my draft year I saw myself as a winger, but hopefully I can build my inside skills a bit more and continue to grow in that role.

“I’ve still got lots to learn in that space, it’s handy playing a bit on the wing and a bit inside so I can still develop both my inside and outside skills.

“It’s slowly starting to tick along and get better, so I’m happy with the process.”

The winger was listed at 189cm and 74kg in his draft year at Sandringham Dragons ahead of being drafted at the end of the first round.

Holmes made his senior debut in round 3, 2021 against Hawthorn, and eventually played 12 games in his maiden season, with three of those as the unused medical substitute.

But Holmes broke out in his second year, playing 18 games for the Cats and averaging 15.6 disposals, 3.8 marks, 0.8 goal assists and 0.7 goals per game.

He suffered heartbreak at the end of the 2022 campaign, subbed out of the preliminary final victory over Brisbane with a hamstring injury that eventually kept him out of Geelong’s premiership-winning team that beat Sydney by 81 points.

Max Holmes. Picture: Sarah Reed

Holmes said it was the start of the 2022 campaign where he realised he would suit an inside midfield role, using his explosiveness to burst out of contests.

“Pre-season last year was probably the point where I thought that I could make the jump to inside the contest, the coaches gave me a bit of a crack in patches in games and it’s progressed now to where they’re pretty happy with me in there,” he said.

“That was a conversation with the coaches, they saw it more than I probably did.

“It started on in my first year probably, we got a few injuries in the midfield and through necessity I got a bit of a chance and I started going in there a bit.

“I must’ve shown a bit of promise there because they started to say ‘we can really try to improve this side of your game’, and it’s slowly improving, coaches are pretty happy with how it’s going.

“I’m hoping it will go a bit quicker but we’re getting there.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats: Max Holmes starting to star in midfield role