On a night that a series of mistakes almost cost Geelong their 20-point win over Collingwood at the MCG, at least dynamic Cat Max Holmes could see the funny side of one of the game’s most comical errors.

Holmes was awarded a free kick in Geelong’s half-forward line late in the third quarter after running down Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard. The Cats were trailing by two points and were in desperate need of a goal. Holmes couldn’t believe what happened next.

Max Holmes of the Cats runs with the ball.Credit: Getty Images

Instinctively, teammate Gryan Miers decided to take the advantage and flicked a handball to Mark Blicavs who instead of kicking the ball, tossed it back to Holmes. He was pinged for a throw and Collingwood was awarded a free kick.

“Gryan took the advantage, I’ll be having a word to him about that, and then Blics didn’t want it and then threw it back,” Holmes said with a grin after the match.

“It was all a bit of a kerfuffle. He (Blicavs) didn’t realise it was our advantage, unfortunately, so, yeah, it was a bit annoying.”

After his teammate had embarrassingly coughed up the ball, Holmes told the umpire he hoped they would make a blunder to divert attention away from the Blicavs’ throw.

He need not have worried. In the eyes of many, that blunder had already happened.

Cats coach Chris Scott was surprised by the new interpretation of the 15m rule,Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Without warning, the umpires had chosen Friday night to crack down on the ball travelling 15m for........

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