Highlighted by coach Chris Scott as a player to watch in 2024, Holmes had a huge influence as a playmaker in the home side's 11.17 (83) to 10.11 (71) victory at GHMBA Stadium on Friday night.
Geelong kicked five consecutive goals in the final quarter to run over the top of the Bombers, who lost important defender Jordan Ridley to a quadriceps injury.
Tyson Stengle kicked three majors for the Cats, with Mark Blicavs (20 disposals), Tanner Bruhn (20) and Mitch Duncan (21) all busy.
Emerging forward Ollie Dempsey (15 touches, one goal) also showed promising signs, but it was Holmes who most caught the eye.
The 21-year-old, who missed Geelong's 2022 premiership through injury, shapes as a central figure in Scott's plans to return to the summit this year.
Holmes used his pace and skill to distribute the ball off half-back against Essendon and had stints through the midfield, finishing with 29 disposals and a goal.
He also had a game-high 645 metres gained - 579 of those in the first half.
"Max is a really powerful athlete," Cats assistant coach Steven King said.
"He gives us a lot around the ball and with the way the modern game's played now I think a lot of his attributes are suited to half-back.
"You would've seen him tonight spend a lot of time around the ball as well.
"We feel like we've got a mature group with some great young guys coming up who can play in multiple positions and Max is one of those."
Holmes sparked a brief scare when needing his left ankle assessed after being run down in a final-quarter tackle.
He finished the game with ice on the joint but is expected to be available for the Cats' round-one clash with St Kilda on March 16.
Kyle Langford (three), Nic Martin and recruit Jade Gresham (both two) all kicked multiple goals for Essendon, who led for most of the tightly-contested game before fading as they rested players in the last quarter.
Martin (28) flourished in a similar role to Holmes across half-back, while Darcy Parish (34 disposals) and Andrew McGrath (31) were typically busy and Jake Stringer (15, one goal) was in the thick of the action early.
Just days after signing a new long-term contract, Ridley re-injured his right quadriceps during the third term and was consoled by teammates at the three-quarter time huddle.
The 25-year-old had a high-grade strain of the same muscle which sidelined him for the final four games last season.
He is now in serious doubt for the Bombers' round-one meeting with Hawthorn on March 16.
"He's got a tight quad so obviously that will need scans during the week," Bombers assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa said.
"We'll see how that goes, but he's an important player for us, so hopefully it's not too bad. I think he's a little bit sore."
