Max Holmes has bolted into draft contention in recent months, revealing a chance meeting with St Kilda running machine Brad Hill has led to the pair training together.
Holmes, who is the son of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lee Naylor, opted to choose footy over athletics despite his strong running pedigree.
The 18-year-old Sandringham Dragons product played one game as a bottom-ager in 2019 due to an arm injury and along with the rest of his teammates, has spent the entirely of 2020 not playing football due Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown.
The outside midfielder said after bumping into Hill at a local athletics track, they set up training sessions together in the lead up to the draft.
“We got a couple of sessions under our belt together which was great,” he said on SEN Mornings.
“We just happened to bump into him at the local athletics track one day and he wanted to join in a couple of the sessions.
“I think I have him covered over 400 metres, but a bit further and he’s probably got me – he’s got a bit more endurance than I do."
Holmes, who is a St Kilda fan, said it was an invaluable experience to be able to train with one of the AFL’s best endurance athletes.
“We’ve done a couple of training sessions together and I trained with him last week,” he said.
“I did one of his sessions which was good and we had a kick of the footy, he’s been really good.
“It would be pretty crazy (to be drafted by St Kilda), especially with the way the Saints are going and it would be a dream could true as every little kid wants to play for their side.
“I would like to go anywhere, but going to St Kilda would be extra special.”
Tune in at 6:30pm AEDT on Wednesday, December 9 for the AFL Draft on SEN, powered by Tyrepower.
