Max Holmes has been awarded his first Carji Greeves Medal at Crown Melbourne on Thursday night.
Holmes polled 164 votes to take out the Geelong’s top honour, with defender Zach Guthrie finishing runner up (120) and Jeremy Cameron rounding out the podium in third (118). Cats vice-captain Tom Stewart (117) and Tyson Stengle (107) completed the top five placings.
Holmes played every game in 2024, polling in 22 games. He was judged the Cats best by the coaches in six of those games.
The 22-year-old averaged 24.2 disposals per game this season and classified elite across the AFL in average meters gained per game (560.7 metres). Holmes’ offensive threat and run and carry was a trademark of his game in 2024, leading the Cats in disposals, inside 50’s and effective disposals.
Splitting his time across half back and in the midfield, Holmes also finished third in the AFL for running bounces with 60 and averaged a career high in clearances. Holmes’ year was recognised, earning a spot in the 44-man All Australian squad last month for the first time.
Building from his fourth placing in 2023, Zach Guthrie capped off an exceptionally consistent 2024, finishing runner-up. Guthrie who has not missed a game since Round 8 2022, played all 25 matches this season, averaging a career high 18.24 disposals and 6 marks per game.
Another standout year saw Guthrie become a key pillar and interceptor in Geelong’s defence, with the Cats rewarded with a fresh three-year contract extension, which keeps him at the Club until the end of 2028.
Rounding out the podium, is joint 2022 Carji winner Jeremy Cameron who enjoyed another stellar season in the Hoops. Cameron kicked 64 goals in 2024, including a remarkable nine goals in Round 24 against West Coast.
Cameron, who celebrated his 250th AFL game in Round 22, finished second in the Coleman Medal and earnt his fourth All Australian jacket last month. Cameron continued to be a dangerous, potent option in the Cats forward half, averaging the most shots by any player in the AFL (5.2).
In other awards presented during the night, Tom Atkins and Tom Hawkins were joint winners 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, and who champions the Club and team values.
In his third season as a Cat, 2024 Telstra Rising Star winner Ollie Dempsey was named Best Young Player. Playing every game in 2024, Dempsey kicked 22 goals, averaging 17.44 disposals playing on the wing and up forward. For his Round 16 performance against Essendon in the annual Country Game, Dempsey was awarded the Tom Wills Medal for best on ground for his 25 disposals and two goals.
Retiring Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins was named the Carter Family Community Champion award for his outstanding commitment to the community.
As much as Hawkins has been a giant on-field for the Cats, he has also been a leader off-field, having over his 18 years at the Club being immersed in the Cats community programs, visiting junior football clubs, schools and hospitals and involvement in delivery of Cats Wishes. Hawkins’ contributions off-field were recognised for a second time, with the Cat receiving the same award in 2019.
The Little Vic award winner was also recognised, with Patrick Hughes awarded the VFL team’s best first year player in memory of long serving Geelong volunteer Vic Fuller.
Hughes played 17 games in his first VFL season, including both the Qualifying and Semi Final, averaging 12.11 disposals and 4.11 tackles a game. Hughes hit the scoreboard kicking 10 goals.
Carji Greeves Medal Top 10
1. Max Holmes - 164 votes
2. Zach Guthrie - 120 votes
3. Jeremy Cameron - 118 votes
4. Tom Stewart - 117 votes
5. Tyson Stengle - 107 votes
6. Gryan Miers - 95 votes
7. Ollie Dempsey - 73 votes
8. Ollie Henry - 69 votes
9. Brad Close - 66 votes
10. Patrick Dangerfield - 65 votes
How the voting works
After each game, the Senior and Assistant Coaches review and rate each players performance on a scale of 0 to 10. Votes are only polled in games where a player’s performance has been deemed of a high quality by the coaching group. All matches are counted towards their final total.
