Geelong have received a massive boost on the eve of their massive clash with Carlton with Max Holmes signing a new deal.
7NEWS Melbourne chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed the 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal that will keep him at the Cats until at least the end of 2028.
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It’s a massive coup for the club with Holmes arguably the hottest young player on the Cats’ ageing list.
Blessed with blistering pace and a long kick, Holmes would have had no shortage of offers from rival clubs.
But he has chosen to stay with the Cats, who are currently flying on top of the ladder with six wins and zero losses, and his new deal will take him to free agency.
Currently in his fourth AFL season, Holmes has shifted to half-back and been among Geelong’s best in their undefeated start to the season.
He is averaging 23 disposals a game and has also pushed forward with four goals.
Holmes was drafted with pick No.20 in the 2020 draft after the Cats traded their future first-round pick to secure him.
He has since played 57 games, but missed out on the 2022 premiership after suffering a hamstring injury in the preliminary final.
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has previously described Holmes, who missed the 2022 flag through a hamstring injury, as “Judd-like”.
And Holmes took the lofty comparison to the two-time Brownlow medallist in his stride.
“That was a bit silly. I don’t know why he had to come up with a big call like that,” Holmes said last month.
“He could have just been nice about my game without doing that. But hopefully I can try to make him seem a little more credible.
“I haven’t seen it as much so far as maybe Paddy has, but I was very flattered with the compliment.
“So yeah, I guess we just keep trying to push towards that.
“But I’m not putting a ceiling on anything at the moment.”
– With AAP
