Hunter Holmes joins brother Max at Geelong

The Holmes family got their fairytale scenario on Thursday night when Hunter joined his brother Max at the Cats as Geelong recruiting veteran Stephen Wells reveals what attracted them to the younger sibling.

The Holmes brothers are both now at Geelong. Picture: Michael Klein

A family fairytale is complete for Geelong with Hunter Holmes joining his dual best and fairest brother Max at the club, as Cats recruiting guru Stephen Wells insisted he was drafted on his football ability.

The Cats had just one selection on night two of the draft and picked Holmes, who shares countless similarities to his brother Max at the same stage of his football career – even studying the same university course.

Their mother, two-time Olympic sprinter Lee Naylor, told this masthead ahead of the draft that it would be a “fairytale” having the two brothers combine at the Cats.

Naylor got her wish after Geelong read out the Oakleigh Chargers runner’s name at pick 33, another sign of Wells’ long-term vision after taking South Australian wingman Harley Barker the previous night.

Geelong Next Generation Academy forward Jesse Mellor, the son of former Richmond assistant coach and Geelong West coach Greg, slid through the national draft and is set to be added as a Category B rookie by the Cats.

The Cats will take one additional rookie selection and re-add delisted duo George Stevens and Keighton Matofai-Forbes if they aren’t selected by rival clubs.

The Holmes brothers reuniting came after Latrelle Pickett was handed his Melbourne guernsey by his cousin, Melbourne star Kysaiah on Wednesday night.

Wells credited the Holmes brothers’ former junior coach and ex-Sandringham Dragons talent manager Wayne Oswald for his inside word on the pair as he made clear that it wasn’t just a sentimental selection.

Hunter said at the draft combine that Max had been in their ear about selecting him, but Wells said it was Oswald’s opinion rather than Max that mattered most.

“We didn’t talk a lot about Hunter during the year. Max was very hopeful that Hunter might develop into an AFL draft prospect, and very supportive of Hunter,” Wells said.

“But I know he’s very, very excited about the thought of Hunter joining him down at Geelong, but he was just looking for Hunter to have an opportunity anywhere – as was Hunter, he would have been happy to play anywhere.

New Geelong rookie Hunter Holmes with his brother Max and their mum Lee Naylor, a former Olympic runner. Picture: Michael Klein

“The fact that he is Max’s brother is a bit of a bonus, and I know Max and the whole family will be very, very excited about Hunter joining him, but we’re very excited about Hunter the footballer.

“We’ve picked Hunter the footballer. We think he’s really earned an opportunity, he’s a young man who’s very, very determined, but some brilliant athletic traits, of course.

“It’s fair to say, Wayne’s thoughts on the boys and their prospects as AFL players was the opinion that I took into consideration the most when deciding whether to draft them or not.”

The lightning-quick Oakleigh Chargers prospect is a late developer and has had limited time in the elite pathway just like his brother Max.

Max has enjoyed a meteoric rise since he was taken with pick 20 in the 2020 draft, winning the past two Carji Greeves Medals.

Wells believes Hunter has similar scope as a balanced and athletic midfielder.

“I’ve seen Hunter play a bit more than Max, in that Max was in a Covid year and hardly played at all,” Wells said.

“But definite similarities. They’re both very coachable, very willing to do what they can to help the team. Of course, brilliant athletic traits and Hunter’s got so much scope for development there that probably Max showed at the same time. And if he comes along like Max did, we’ll be very happy.

“(Hunter) does very, well as an inside midfielder. His hands are very clean in the contest, and he’s a brilliant handballer in tight.

“But he’s also got those athletic capabilities to be able to get out, play on the wing or half back. So he’s a genuine inside, outside mid prospect.”

Originally published as Hunter Holmes joins brother Max at Geelong