Max Holmes

{{short description|Australian rules footballer (born 2002)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Max Holmes

| image = Max Holmes 2023.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Holmes playing for Geelong in 2023

| fullname = Max Holmes

| nickname =

| birth_place =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2002|08|29}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Sandringham Dragons (NAB League) / Melbourne Grammar (APS)

| draftpick = No. 20, 2020 national draft

| position = Midfielder

| debutdate = Round 3, 2021

| debutteam = {{AFL Gee}}

| debutopponent = {{AFL Haw}}

| debutstadium = the MCG

| weight = 74 kg

| height = 190 cm

| currentclub = {{AFL Gee}}

| guernsey = 9

| club1 = {{AFL Gee}}

| years1 = 2021–

| games_goals1 = 91 (41)

| statsend = round 15, 2025

| careerhighlights =

• Carji Greeves Medal: 2024

}}

Max Holmes (born 29 August 2002) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Geelong in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Geelong traded their future first round pick with Richmond to secure Pick 20 in the 2020 AFL draft to select Holmes.{{Cite web|title=Cats give up future first-rounder to land speed machine|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/528511/cats-give-up-future-first-rounder-to-land-speed-machine|access-date=2021-04-02|website=afl.com.au|date=9 December 2020 |language=en}} Holmes made his AFL debut in round 3 of the 2021 AFL season against Hawthorn in the traditional Easter Monday clash.{{Cite web|title=Shock debut: Cats to unleash speedster on Easter Monday|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/575378/geelong-draftee-max-holmes-to-make-debut-on-easter-monday|access-date=2021-04-02|website=afl.com.au|date=2 April 2021 |language=en}} Holmes' mother is former Olympian Lee Naylor.{{Cite web|title=Heraldsun.com.au {{!}} Subscribe to the Herald Sun for exclusive stories|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Fleader%2Flocalfooty%2Fnab-league%2Fsandringham-dragon-max-holmes-a-bolter-for-the-afl-national-draft%2Fnews-story%2Fba74e4955cceddbfc0f2522336c8648b&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=955c46e170d11444f3a27ccace3eb56c-1617401821|access-date=2021-04-02|website=www.heraldsun.com.au}} Holmes grew up in East Malvern and played junior football for Prahran{{cite web | url=https://prahranfootballclub.com.au/pages/afl-vfl-players | title=AFL/ VFL Players }} and East Malvern Knights in the South Metro Junior Football League.

Holmes was an integral part of Geelong's 2022 premiership campaign, but injured his hamstring in Geelong's preliminary final against Brisbane. Holmes was reportedly very close to playing in the Grand Final, but Geelong chose not to select him due to the risk of re-injury, and the significant depth they had.{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/849471/young-geelong-cats-heartbreak-max-holmes-ruled-out-of-grand-final#:~:text=GEELONG%20youngster%20Max%20Holmes%20will,recover%20from%20his%20hamstring%20injury. | title=Young Cat's heartbreak: Holmes to miss, replacements named | date=24 September 2022 }}

Holmes won the Grand Final Sprint on AFL Grand Final Day 2023.