“How good could he be?”: Why Mooney is so excited about young Cats star Max Holmes

Geelong great Cameron Mooney is tipping young Cat Max Holmes to have a huge 2025 season.

Holmes, 22, won the Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong’s best and fairest in 2024 and Mooney is tipping the speedy on-baller to go to a new level next campaign.

After picking up 10 Brownlow votes for his efforts last season, Mooney is predicting a big rise in that number next year, tipping Holmes to finish inside the top 10 in the 2025 count.

The three-time premiership forward is convinced that Holmes is already Geelong’s best player, and he discussed his huge upside with Sam Edmund on SEN Breakfast.

Edmund expects Holmes to form a game-breaking partnership with off-season recruit Bailey Smith in the middle of the ground.

Edmund: “Max Holmes spoke yesterday about his excitement of playing alongside Bailey Smith and he said at 23 Bailey helps with the age profile – it was a pretty stock standard press conference.

“But my question to you is - Max Holmes, how good could he be? How good could he be provided the hamstrings stand up?”

Mooney: “It is a concern to do two big hammys, particularly in big games, and his one wood is his speed.”

Edmund: “They probably would have won that game against Brisbane (in the prelim) if he hadn't done the hamstring. I don't want to disrespect the Lions, but he was slaying them before he went off.”

Mooney: “I'd be surprised if we're not speaking about him in Brownlow talks in the next couple of years. I'd be very surprised if clearly, he's not top 10 and probably top five by the end of next season.

“His upside is unbelievable, we've already seen how good he is and what he can be is even better.”

Edmund: You can see him and Bailey Smith waxing, can't you? As the point of difference in that midfield.

“A lot rests on the shoulders of Max Holmes for his line-breaking speed and if Bailey Smith can recapture what he was capable of a couple of years ago at the Dogs, then I think those two can wreak all sorts of havoc.”

Mooney: “Talking about Holmes, he’s probably the most important player there now or the most influential player there now.

“That’s with Tommy Stewart (in the team), and Danger (Patrick Dangerfield) is not as his best but when he’s playing near his best, he's still unbelievably influential.

“But I think Holmes consistently is the better player.”

Holmes and the Cats begin their 2025 campaign in the season-opening clash against the Lions at the Gabba on Thursday, March 6.