MAX Holmes is one youngster in the AFL we\u2019re not talking about enough.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the belief of former Western Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson, who says Holmes\u2019 influence on games is flying under the radar.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old missed the 2022 grand final in heartbreaking circumstances after breaking into Geelong\u2019s best 22 but has continued the form into this season.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s attended 34 per cent of centre bounces this year alongside his wing role, averaging over 20 disposals a game.<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s not Holmes\u2019 numbers but his impact that has Johnson excited, suggesting the Cat is among the most promising 20 year olds in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been impressed for the last 12 months with this young man, Max Holmes, Mr impact,\u201d Johnson began on SEN’s Sportsday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a player who doesn\u2019t need a lot of disposals, but his impact is high and first-class in the way he’s playing his footy.<\/p>\n
\u201c[In round eight] he had 22 and eight tackles and his second half in particular was just brilliant. He was clearly the highest-rated player on the ground after half-time last\u2026 so it just got me thinking\u2026 where he sits in the conversations.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s 20 years of age, he\u2019s rated amongst the best in the comp for his role at centre bounce and wing and with [Patrick] Dangerfield going down, he probably gets more of a run through the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe now consistently gets 20-25 disposals, not 15-20, so he\u2019s taken that next step as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holmes was awarded five coaches votes for his 21-disposal, five-clearance game in Geelong\u2019s 26-point win over the Crows in round eight.<\/p>\n
Originally taken with pick 20 in 2020, Johnson said he believes Holmes is currently having the second-best impact of any player taken out of that draft and the next.<\/p>\n
\u201cNick Daicos is 20, I think we all know he\u2019ll be number one. Then we go Erroll Gulden, [Tanner] Bruhn, [Ollie] Henry, [Jack] Ginnivan, [Josh] Rachele, [Finn] Callaghan\u2026 I don\u2019t think we\u2019re talking about Holmes enough,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear about Gulden about all the time, Bruhn and Henry were big recruits\u2026 Ginnivan, Rachelle and Callaghan get mentioned at the moment before Max Holmes, yet I think Max Holmes is having better impacts on games than potentially three, possibly four of them.\u201d<\/p>\n