Geelong set for massive boost with superstar Max Holmes firming to return against Carlton

Geelong star Max Holmes is firming to return for an elimination final bout with Carlton , Cats coach Chris Scott admitting the midfielder looked good enough to play last week.

Holmes hasn’t played since fracturing an ankle and needing syndesmosis surgery in Round 19.

But the 24-year-old has been training strongly and is again expected to push his case during a main session at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday.

Holmes, who is sporting a fresh goatee, ran freely during the brief time when media were allowed to watch training.

“He trained last Thursday and he looked pretty good to my eye,” Scott said of Holmes.

“If you put it in the really old school, back when I started playing, he might have played last week because you watched him run around Thursday and go ‘OK, well he can do it’.

“I just think we’ve shifted a little bit philosophically from those days.

“It’s getting to the point where he just keeps doing what has been asked of him.”

Missing out on a double chance, Geelong don’t have the luxury of giving Holmes another week off to be certain he is right to play.

Holmes would give the Cats’ midfield a giant boost coming up against an in-form Blues set-up featuring the likes of young gun Jagga Smith, Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps.

“I’m thinking hard without having come to a conclusion yet,” Scott said of the Holmes decision.

“But that’ll obviously be a team decision as well, led in large part by Max.”

If Holmes plays, the Cats will virtually be at full-strength after Scott declared small forward Oli Wiltshire right to return from a foot injury.

Geelong still had the pre-finals bye and avoided the historic wildcard round, which 10th-placed Carlton were forced into and beat Melbourne last Saturday night.