Geelong youngster Max Holmes hoping to prove fitness for AFL grand final

Max Holmes is the sad story of grand final day. This is why he ultimately missed out on facing Sydney.

Max Holmes’ week-long effort to prove his fitness for the grand final has fallen short, with the speedster replaced in Geelong’s side by Mark O’Connor.

Cats assistant Shaun Grigg confirmed the change, with Brandan Parfitt to be Geelong’s medical subsititute.

Max Holmes missed out. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Holmes went through a fitness test on Friday morning but didn’t train with his teammates and left the decision to play in the hands of the coaches.

Grigg confirmed the decision was “really line ball” as the Cats chose not to take a risk with an injured player on the biggest stage against Sydney.

“It’s really line ball, it’s just one of those calls where you have to put the team first. It’s one of those unlucky stories,” Grigg told 3AW.

“It was just a whole range of things. He was pretty good but for an AFL grand final we just thought it was a bit too much of a risk to take an injured player in.”

O’Connor has acted as Geelong’s subsitute throughout the finals and is a like-for-like replacement for Holmes given his running capacity.

Sydney has stuck with Sam Reid, despite the forward carrying a groin injury.

Cats wait on Max Holmes decision

Geelong speedster Max Holmes has “done what he needed to do” but is yet to be locked in to the final team for Saturday’s grand final.

Holmes put his worrisome hamstring through a fitness test on Friday morning at GMHBA Stadium and was then driven to the parade in Melbourne by medical boss Harry Taylor.

Max Holmes joined Sam De Koning at the grand final parade . Picture by Michael Klein

While the speedster was confident himself that he had done all he could, the Cats coaches were yet to decide on Friday afternoon whether he would line up against Sydney.

Holmes was named in Geelong’s side on Thursday, but the club has until about an hour until the first bounce on game day to lodge its final team.

Cats coach Chris Scott said Holmes was yet to be ruled out.

“He has probably done what he needed to from a physical point of view now,” Scott said.

“We were hoping we could be at the point now where we could say absolutely that he is playing. What we do know now is that it is absolutely not a ‘no’.

“We just need to make sure we spend the requisite time over the next little bit deciding whether he is absolutely right and if that is the best thing for us. We haven’t made that decision yet.”

Utility Mark O’Connor looms as the next man up if Holmes is ruled out and he told the Addy this week he “will be ready” if needed.

Scott said that O’Connor would “probably” replace Holmes if need be but fellow emergencies Brandan Parfitt and Sam Menegola are also options for selectors.

“I feel desperately for them (to miss selection), if Max doesn’t come up it will be one of those guys (who replaces him),” Scott said.

Scott said the coaches knew who would be Geelong’s medical sub if Holmes doesn’t play but he refused to reveal who it would be.

Cats to name Max Holmes in Thursday team

Geelong is set to name Max Holmes in its grand final side on Thursday as the youngster continued to take steps forward at training and push his case to play in the grand final.

Max Holmes was back on the track on Wednesday. Picture by Michael Klein

And picking up speed. Picture by Michael Klein

Holmes was back out on the far side of GMHBA Stadium on Wednesday morning to go through more running as his teammates warmed up for their final main training session.

He went through extensive 100m running and had some intense stretching with physios, all while running without discomfort.

The speedster didn’t hit top speed but he was running at higher velocity than on Monday when he jogged in front of the fans at Geelong’s open session.

Geelong assistant coach James Kelly said the Wednesday session would likely not decide Holmes’ fate and he would “probably” be named in the side that will be released on Thursday.

Geelong will train on the MCG on Friday after the grand final parade, a session that will be used to test out Holmes.

“He just has to progress well today and we will keep assessing it,” Kelly said on Wednesday.

“We are of the belief that we want to give everyone a chance to be at their best and Max is at the forefront of that.

“He has got to keep progressing really. How that looks day-to-day will depend on how he is feeling.”

Holmes goes through some intense stretching Picture by Michael Klein

Kelly said the Cats coaches had held extensive discussions on how they would replace Holmes if he doesn’t get up, but he refused to reveal who would some into the starting-22 to face Sydney.

The bubbly young midfielder has been in good spirits this week and was focused on his task ahead.

“He is pretty good, he is pretty up and about,” Kelly said.

“It is a distraction but it is maybe a bit of a welcome distraction for him. He just comes in and focuses on what he has to do that day.”

Cats have plans in place to cover for Holmes

Geelong assistant coach Shaun Grigg says there’s a number of plans in place to cover Max Holmes if the young gun fails his fitness tests this week.

The speedy midfielder ran laps in front of a cheering GMHBA Stadium crowd at Monday’s open training session as part of his recover.

“Max is optimistic, we just don’t know yet, we’ve got some more training tomorrow (Wednesday) so we’ll give him a chance to prove himself,” Grigg said.

“Our medical team and fitness staff have performed so well throughout the year with planning players and having players ready so we’ll lean on them.

“We’ve got a number of players that we’d be happy to come in and play, we’ve got some really good players that have unfortunately missed out on playing finals and that’s the hardest part about coaching.

Max Holmes at training this week. Picture by Michael Klein

“We’ll plan a plan A, plan B, plan C, as you’d expect we would.

“At the moment it’s just too early to tell what will be.”

Cats defender Zach Tuohy said his “heart sunk” when he spotted Holmes limping off the MCG with a hamstring injury in the preliminary final.

“Injuries are the worst part of football, that’s obvious, but injuries at this time of year are just cruel,” he said.

“I was on the far wing when he limped off and my heart sunk at the time, even in the middle of the game when he was limping off.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Max Holmes of the Cats runs laps during a Geelong Cats AFL training session at GMHBA Stadium on September 19, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“He’s a bubbly sort of character, and believe it or not, but he’s as bouncy now as he always is.

“It might just be him hiding it well, but if it means putting on a brave face for everyone then he’s doing a good job of it.”

Holmes ran laps on Monday’s open training session in the first bid to prove his fitness, with thousands of adoring fans cheering their support for the youngster.

If the young gun fails to prove his fitness before Saturday, it is expected that utility Mark O’Connor will be elevated from the medical sub role, with either Sam Menegola or Brandan Parfitt to fill the 23rd position.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Zach Tuohy of the Cats acknowledges the fans during a Geelong Cats AFL training session at GMHBA Stadium on September 19, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Cats utility Mark Blicavs said the club and its supporters were getting around Holmes.

“He’s been amazing, I’m not sure if it’s because he’s a young player or he’s just a normally happy, energetic guy but he’s done a pretty good job of that (keeping positive) himself,” he said.

“We obviously have a chat to him and try to get around him as much as we can, (but) we also give him some space.

“He got a good cheer when he was doing laps around here, he’ll be given, I assume, right to the last minute so (it’s) great to see him jogging out, he was really positive and the club is really positive on it.

“I thought he was fantastic before going down with that injury against Brisbane, so I guess we’ll wait and see but he’s in good spirits.”

‘Maxican wave’ behind Holmes hammy test

You could call it a Maxican wave.

The ripple began at the northern end of GMHBA Stadium on Monday, with more than 5000 one-eyed Cats fans in the house, all trying to spot Max Holmes.

Cats fans get behind Max Holmes. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The youngster was running up and down the wing on the far side, away from the crowd, to begin the open training session before he embarked on a lap of the oval.

As he cruised through, first past the Brownlow Stand, then the Premiership Stand and to the Players Stand, the cheer went with him.

Holmes showed no sign of the hamstring pain that looked to rule him out of the grand final only a few days ago, instead he ran with freedom and the wave followed him.

This was far from a fitness test.

Holmes will have to wait until Wednesday’s main session or even later in the week to prove his fitness, and he was far from the top speed that has defined his excellent first 30 AFL games.

The youngster loved the moment. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Going through his paces. Picture: Michael Klein

But the midfielder himself enjoyed the reception, having a chuckle as the cheers followed him and picking up a hi-five from medical boss Harry Taylor on his way around the ground.

He loved it so much, Holmes went again, jogging a second lap past the fans.

The ovation wasn’t quite as loud that time, but it was there nonetheless.

Holmes wasn’t the only Cat not joining in with the main group for a light session on Monday, with Tom Hawkins and Jake Kolodjashnij on very light duties away from the pack.

But it was all eyes on Max, who will be the story of grand final week, and has the complete backing of the fans to get to the MCG on Saturday and face Sydney.

‘Encouraging’ early signs for Max Holmes injury

Geelong speedster Max Holmes has taken “encouraging” first steps towards playing in Saturday’s grand final, after he was back running on Sunday.

The youngster appeared destined to be the hard luck story of grand final week when he clutched at his right hamstring in the third quarter of Geelong’s preliminary final win over the Brisbane Lions.

Holmes was initially distraught over the injury but was in good spirits post-match.

Max Holmes heads into the club on Sunday.

But the Cats were hopeful he would overcome his pain to face Sydney in the grand final and he was back in the club on Sunday morning and was jogging and the midfielder will be tested later in the week.

The Geelong medical staff has delivered outstanding results over the past month, with superstar forward Jeremy Cameron recovering from a hamstring issue on the eve of finals and defender Jake Kolodjashnij overcoming a knee injury before starring in the preliminary final.

Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said Holmes “presented well” on Sunday and early signs were “encouraging”.

“His clinical signs on assessment are encouraging and we will continue to manage him accordingly,” Lloyd said.

“The medical team will look at him clinically and declare whether he is available later in the week.

“We will give him absolutely every possibility of getting up to play.

“What both Chris (Scott) and I get from our medical team is that clinical signs are pleasing at present. But we will wait until he is moving a bit more later in the week and at high speeds and assessments will be made accordingly.”

Max Holmes receives treatment during the game. Picture by Michael Klein

The Cats have no shortage of options to replace Holmes if he failed to prove his fitness, with experienced emergencies Brandan Parfitt, Mark O’Connor and Sam Menegola leading the pack to step into the side.

There was an outpouring of support for Holmes from Geelong fans after watching him leave the field on Friday, with dozens of people hoping for the best after his efforts to get the club to another grand final.

Geelong hard nut Tom Atkins left the field in the first half of the Brisbane win clutching at his ribs, but the midfielder has no lingering injury and will be clear to play in the grand final.

Cats fans will get a chance to keep their eye on Holmes on Monday when the club opens the doors for an open training session.

The Cats will then hold main training on Wednesday, before fitting in a final jog on the MCG on Friday around the grand final parade.

Originally published as Geelong youngster Max Holmes hoping to prove fitness for AFL grand final