In just three years at Kardinia Park, Max Holmes has created a legacy for himself in the blue and white hoops with a number of signature moments.

Etched into the minds of the Cats faithful for eternity will be the vision of Holmes running into an open goal, kicking the match winner to sink Collingwood in the 2022 Qualifying Final and setting Geelong on a path to the premiership.

On Saturday night, the 20 year old will reach the next milestone of his young career as he brings up 50 AFL games in just his third season at the top level.

The Cats drafted Holmes with pick 20 of the 2020 AFL draft, exchanging draft picks with Richmond to vault up the draft order and secure the exciting midfielder.

After breaking his arm in 2019 and with 2020 heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sandringham Dragons prospect was not viewed as a potential high pick until days before the draft.

Most recruiters saw Holmes as a project player, but speaking on Fox Footy's 'On the Couch' about the process that lead to his drafting, Geelong coach Chris Scott said that the Cats recruiting team saw his potential early.

“We took a real risk to trade up in the draft to get Max,” Scott said.

“But the guys were really confident, one because of the player he was but two, in terms of complementing our group.

"He’s played mainly as an outside player, with elite speed as a track and field athlete.

"We think he’s going to be more of an inside player, who is great in space and quick but can actually win the ball in traffic and burst away.

"Max has got that capacity, I’m not saying he’s Chris Judd or Paddy Dangerfield yet but who knows, he’s got those attributes.”

Touted as “the perfect rookie listed project with long term development in mind” in his draft profile, Holmes progressed quicker than anyone could have possibly predicted.

In just the third week of his rookie season, the speedy midfielder debuted on Easter Monday in the traditional rivalry game against Hawthorn.

Picking up 16 disposals on the wide expanses of the MCG, Holmes showed plenty of the potential that landed him at Geelong as the Cats hung on for a thrilling five point win.

Since then, the 20-year-old has continued to grow both as a speedy outside asset and more recently as an inside midfielder.

In round 14 this season, Holmes produced one of his best performances with 24 disposals, seven clearances, and seven tackles against Port Adelaide before racking up a career high 33 possessions just weeks later against Essendon.

Speaking on the ‘To the Final Bell’ podcast Cameron Ling and Meg McDonald discussed Holmes's potential to become one of the top players in the competition.

"I personally think he could be as good as the top midfielders in the competition, that's his ceiling,” Ling said. 

"He will add elements to his game each season, but by around game 140, I think he can be just as good as any player in the AFL. 

"His ability to take the ball in congestion and exit contests in an attacking way, helps us release from stoppages purely on the back of his movement and his power.

"I think his strength will be more the work rate up, down, and through the middle of the ground as a premium midfielder."

"I think those elements together are the types of midfielder that I love the best, in any situation they can be influencing the game." 

Holmes will celebrate game number 50 on Saturday night, as the Cats take on St Kilda at Marvel Stadium from 7:25pm.