Holmes wins second-straight Carji Greeves Medal

Max Holmes has been awarded his second-straight Carji Greeves Medal at Crown Melbourne on Thursday night.

Holmes polled 175 votes to take out the Geelong’s top honour, with midfielder Bailey Smith finishing runner-up (155) and Jeremy Cameron rounding out the podium in third (145). Midfielder Tom Atkins (141) and Mark Blicavs (122) completed the top five placings.

Holmes played every game in 2025, the second-straight year he’s done so, polling votes in all games. He was judged the Cats’ best by the coaches in five of those games, against Brisbane (Round 3), Gold Coast (Round 13), Essendon (Round 14), Port Adelaide (Round 21) and Brisbane (Grand Final).

The 23-year-old averaged a career-high 26.9 disposals per game this season, including a career-high 40 disposals against Gold Coast in Round 15, while also ranking first across the AFL in inside 50s and second in metres gained, showcasing Holmes’ offensive threat and trademark run-and-carry.

Predominately playing in the midfield, Holmes finished second in the AFL for running bounces with 72 and averaged a career-high in clearances. Holmes’ year was recognised ahead of the AFL Awards last month, earning a spot in the 44-man All Australian squad for the second-straight year.

Arriving at the Club ahead of the 2025 season, Smith capped off a consistent year, finishing runner-up. Smith played 23 matches, leading the AFL in average disposals per game (31.3), while also averaging career highs in clearances (5.7) and tackles (5).

Smith finished in third place in the AFL’s Brownlow Medal and was recognised at the AFL Awards night as the joint winner of the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year Award and was presented with his first All Australian blazer.

Rounding out the podium is joint 2022 Carji Greeves Medal winner Jeremy Cameron, who enjoyed another stellar season in the Hoops. It is the second-straight year Cameron has finished in third place on the podium, and the third time in five years.

Cameron enjoyed a career-best season in front of goals, kicking 88 goals on his way to earning his second Coleman Medal and fifth All Australian jacket, including being named captain of the 2025 team. Cameron continued to be a dangerous, potent option in the Cats’ forward half, registering the most shots on goal (152) and score involvements (201) by any player across the competition.

In other awards presented during the night, Tom Atkins and Mark Blicavs were joint recipients of the Tom Harley Best Club Person award. Voted by the players, the Tom Harley Best Club Person award goes to the player or players who demonstrate outstanding care for teammates.

This is the fourth-consecutive year that Atkins has won the award, while it is the second time Blicavs has won the award, sharing it in 2020 with Harry Taylor.

In his second season as a Cat, Connor O’Sullivan was named Best Young Player. Playing all but one game in 2025, O’Sullivan became a key pillar in the Cats’ defence alongside Jack Henry and Sam De Konning, averaging 5.6 marks and 12.6 disposals per game. In further recognition for his year, O’Sullivan finished fifth in the Telstra AFL Rising Star Award.

Shaun Mannagh was named the Club’s AFL Carter Family Community Champion for his outstanding commitment to the community.

Although only in his second year at the Cats, Mannagh has immersed himself in Cats community programs since he arrived, visiting junior football clubs, schools and hospitals, and has been involved in the delivery of Cats Wishes.

Cats two-time Premiership player Mitch Duncan was also farewelled on the night after he announced his retirement in August. Duncan departs after playing 305 games for the Club and earlier this year became only the seventh Cat to reach 300-game milestone at Geelong.

2025 Carji Greeves Medal Leaderboard - Top 10

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