Holmes on his 100th game

I do a bit of reflecting, I was thinking recently about my first meeting with Geelong and meeting Stephen Wells over Zoom, because it was Covid times back then.

Wellsy said what do you expect out of your career, and I think I said something along the lines that I would be happy to play 100 games and scrape through to that.

I didn't think they were interested in me at all, but he said that they wouldn't draft me for that, they wanted me to play 200 games or more.

That was massive faith from a man that didn't really know me at all back then, so I am really excited this week to have gotten to where I am.

It is a bit of a shock, I don't think 18 year old me would have thought it would be possible. 

Holmes on the Brisbane challenge

We are not really thinking about last year, or even this year's games to be honest.

We will go out there, it is a fresh new game. Finals footy is completely different to home and away footy, so anything can happen.

I think we are pretty confident in the way we have been going, despite who we have been playing.

Everyone is really keen to get into it. 

Holmes on his connection with Bailey Smith

He has been great for my game.

I think at the start of the year, especially considering I had a better year last year, I put a lot of expectation on myself this year.

I think that was really eased by the fact that Bailey went well, I felt like it was less necessary for me to play out of my boots. It has been great having him on the field, winning the Coaches Association award means he has had an amazing year.

He has been awesome to play with. 

Holmes on bouncing back from last year

Personally I am pretty laid back going into a game, that kind of thing doesn't bother me.

I don't know about the other boys, but I am just going to move forward as if it was any other game.

It doesn't really bother me that is a final per se, it is just another game against a good team and I am really excited by the prospect. Last year is in the rear window.

This year I have been a lot more comfortable, I have been pretty open moving into this game with how I felt last year. 

Holmes on Tom Atkins' Influence

I think it has been good, you say Bailey and I but Tom Atkins has been amazing this year.

He has really taken a step forward in his leadership and his responsibility as well.

I don't think that we would be going as well as we are if he hadn't been playing the way he is. He has been really vocal out on the field, that really helps.

It has been awesome for him to be playing the way he is.