AFL 2024: Geelong’s signing of Max Holmes was the most vital of their many uncontracted players

Geelong began the season with countless players out of contract, and its most important signature is in the books. We assess why Max Holmes’ new deal is so vital.

Max Holmes has signed a four year deal. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong had more than 20 players out of contract at the start of the year, and there is no doubt the signature of Max Holmes was the most vital.

And the deal Cats fans were most nervous about.

Holmes had waited until midway through his second season to sign on with the Cats in 2022 and ahead of round one, the in-demand 21-year-old indicated he could continue playing at his best this time around while in the headlines.

“I went through a similar thing in 2022, probably a different scenario but I played half a season without signing a contract,” Holmes said on March 11.

“I’m not too worried about that. I’m pretty adept at playing footy without listening to the noise.”

Just 43 days later with the Cats 6-0, he penned a four-year extension taking him through to free agency.

Max Holmes has signed on until 2028. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

In those six weeks he certainly showed he can handle the heat while playing in a new and unforeign role off halfback.

Holmes has given the Cats the line-breaking speed and rebound out of defence that they sorely needed, ranking third in the competition for metres gained (573m per game) behind Essendon’s Nic Martin (591) and Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston (584).

The fact Holmes is averaging 23 disposals per game compared to Martin’s 31 underlines his damaging impact per possession that is worth its weight in gold in the modern game.

The former sprinter has regularly been handed the ball in difficult positions this year before effortlessly turning on the afterburners to blitz past opponents to set up Geelong’s attack.

While he does it with the ease of a Sunday stroll, he makes those chasers look like they are running on a treadmill.

Holmes is also the third ranked general defender in the competition according to Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings, and has upped his intercept game in recent weeks, averaging 7.7 intercept possessions in his last three matches.

That’s the now.

When swung into the centre square, where he has spent 12 per cent of his time this season, Holmes has the scope to give his side even more forward-half impact.

Holmes takes the game on with his blistering run. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

His explosiveness out of stoppage at 190cm, blistering speed on the outside, and ability to kick goals, having kicked four majors this year.

Those game-breaking attributes are a mouth-watering prospect when he inevitably transitions into a full-time midfielder in the future.

With skipper Patrick Dangerfield 34 and the injury-hit Cam Guthrie turning 32 in August, that might be sooner rather than later, and it highlights another reason why his signing is so crucial.

Whatever his role, the best is certainly yet to come for Holmes, who has improved rapidly from the draft bolter whose final year of juniors was wiped out by Covid.

Holmes infamously missed the 2022 premiership with a cruel hamstring injury, but he is the point-of-difference player who can spur the Cats to their 11th flag.

His signing is another tick for football boss Andrew Mackie after fellow first-round pick Jhye Clark’s penned a two-year deal earlier this season.

But there remains some important players still on the whiteboard, headlined by Dangerfield, livewire Tyson Stengle, who has captured his best form, and Jack Henry.

Now that the most prized signing of all is done, it wouldn’t surprise to see more follow suit.

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Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong’s signing of Max Holmes was the most vital of their many uncontracted players