When it comes to loyalty, Jackson Hollmer holds the banner.
Hollmer, now in his eighth season, this weekend becomes Geelong’s longest serving VFL listed player as the Cats face North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium.
Hollmer moves past former club captain, State captain, VFL Team of the Year captain and Liston Medalist James Byrne, who he currently shares the games record for VFL listed players (94 games). The next target will be the overall club record for VFL and AFL listed players held by Trent West of 105 games.
There’s more than longevity to Hollmer’s stay at Kardinia Park, there’s also been a remarkable display of character.
That character was evident from his first season, back in 2007, when he played alongside Byrne and an All Star team that included Tom Hawkins, Scott Thompson, Tom Lonergan, Steven King, Travis Varcoe, Jason Davenport, Trent West and Henry Playfair.
After playing in Geelong’s winning Preliminary Final team against North Ballarat, Hollmer was the unlucky one who made way for Sam Hunt who was returning from a hamstring injury.
Hollmer was made first emergency for the 2007 Grand Final as Geelong went on to post its second VFL premiership in the decade.
After playing 13 games during the 2012 home and away season, Hollmer was again cast as a spectator when the finals came around, again among the emergencies when the Cats won the flag.
It would have been easy for Hollmer or anyone who’d endured such a character-building run to think of moving on, but that’s not how Hollmer rolls.
As Geelong’s VFL General Manager Ben Waller noted “Jack Hollmer is an incredibly loyal person.”
Asked how he’s dealt with missing out on playing in three Grand Finals, Hollmer replied that he has understood from the get-go that Geelong listed players are always given first preference when it comes to selection.
“It’s a bit disappointing, but that’s how the system works,” Hollmer said.
“Playing at the highest level I can is something I want to do.
“It’s not a bad thing running around at Simonds Stadium every second week compared to a country oval somewhere.”
When the number crunching is at its most severe, Hollmer has returned to play with Lara, but this season his ‘local’ club is Port Fairy, where he plays with a bunch of mates.
Hollmer didn’t go through the TAC Cup program, but was considered good enough to play for Vic Country when he was playing in Lorne.
It put Hollmer on the VFL Cats’ radar and he was invited to train with the club in 2007.
With Troy Selwood and Mark Corrigan retired and Ben Raidme injured, Hollmer has stepped up into the vice-captain role behind the evergreen Dom Gleeson.
While Geelong is not as dominant as last season, Hollmer expects the Cats to surge late to shore up a finals berth, especially with a bunch of games at Simonds Stadium.
And, just as he has over the journey Hollmer will again present himself for selection when it matters most.
Finals games are never gifted, but if anyone deserves to be rewarded for their loyalty it is Jackson Hollmer.
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CLICK HERE to listen to Hollmer's teammate Andrew Banjanin on the VFL Podcast this week
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 08/08/2014 12:12