Geelong Cats: Max Holmes eager for finals action after Cats crack top eight

Geelong is back in the top eight and young gun Max Holmes says the group is finding form and ready for a push for finals again in 2023.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Jy Simpkin of the Kangaroos is tackled by Max Holmes of the Cats during the 2023 AFL Round 17 match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on July 9, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Cats midfielder Max Holmes believes the reigning premiers are finding form at the right time of the year, with an important stretch of games set to define their season.

A dominant opening term set up a big win over North Melbourne, with Geelong piling on nine goals before the first break to run out 62-point winners.

But Holmes said the focus was already ahead for the Cats group, with a pivotal clash coming up on Saturday against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium.

“It was a great game obviously, I think coming into the back end of the year we’re talking about how we’re at square one and we’ve got seven more games to really put our stamp on the competition,” he said.

“It was a good step, we probably weren’t as consistent as we would’ve liked but we did great, so overall I think we’re pleased.

“We’re really eager to be playing good games of football and being consistent each week, so we’re excited for the challenge ahead.”

Holmes collected 26 disposals in the win over North Melbourne, with the victory propelling the Cats into the top eight.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Max Holmes of the Cats in action during the 2023 AFL Round 17 match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on July 9, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

With the clash against the Bombers in round 18, the loser is set to potentially drop out of the top eight.

Geelong will then face Brisbane at the Gabba, then Fremantle and Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium before a trip to the MCG to face Collingwood.

Holmes said the focus had shifted from the process of how the side played to prioritising results.

“It is a ‘focus on the process’ sort of approach, I think we’ve got a lot of experienced guys that can guide the team through challenging times,” he said.

“We’re at the point where we want to win as well though, we know what brand we want to play and when we do come to play we’re going to be very hard to stop, so that’s been a real focus for us is getting that brand of footy right as much as we can.

“I think we did that against North and when we get it right we’re very good, so that’s the sort of footy we want to play over the next few weeks.

“We still need to play good football to beat the teams coming up, the competition is really strong at the moment and we’ve got to be on every week.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats: Max Holmes eager for finals action after Cats crack top eight