JASON Holmes’ parents Kevin and Mary are accustomed to travelling far and wide in the name of sport.

Not only was Kevin a professional basketball player in Europe and South America for over a decade, but Jason’s two brothers, Andre (26) and Mark (24), are also elite athletes.

Andre is a wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL, while Mark plays top level basketball in Switzerland.

And then there is Jason: A former college basketballer who tried his hand at Australian Rules two years ago and has not looked back since.

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To say Jason Holmes’ took a risk coming to Australia for the Draft Combine in October 2013 is an understatement. But much like his two brothers and his Dad, a relentless pursuit of sporting excellence comes with the territory when your surname is Holmes.

“If it is something that you want to do and you can make a living out of it, then go for it and attack it,” Kevin Holmes told SAINTS.com.au when he and his wife Mary visited Linen House Centre recently.

“It’s a window that is open and when it’s open you need to make the most of it and be successful. When the window closes, it closes. You can’t open it back up.”

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This single-minded attitude has seen the 203cm ruckman improve rapidly in his 18 months at St Kilda. From kicking his first ever goal, to learning the subtleties of Australian Football, Holmes’ has made his parents incredibly proud.

“I’m very proud of my sons,” Kevin said.

“If someone had of told me that Andre would have played NFL, I wouldn’t have believed it. If someone had said Jason would be in Australia playing AFL – I definitely wouldn’t have believed that!

“It’s something that they’ve set their minds to accomplish. I’m a coach myself and I’m proud of them as a coach.”

SCHNEIDERMAN: Jason Holmes

Jason Holmes' parents live streamed St Kilda's NAB Challenge match against Brisbane.

Kevin and Mary spent almost two weeks in Melbourne and watched Jason play two games for Sandringham – for one big win and one hard-fought defeat.

In their spare time, they went to the Vic Market, watched training at Linen House Centre, and enjoyed many of the tourist attractions Melbourne has to offer.

Now back in Chicago, Kevin and Mary will still speak directly to Jason once or twice a week and there is always the family text message conversation that keeps the five children (Jason also has two younger sisters aged 12 and 9) and his parents in constant communication.

“There was one time last year when I was cooking dinner and Jason called,” Mary said.

“I continued to prepare dinner as we spoke, and then we sat down as a family and ate and put the phone in the middle of the table. It put me in such a good mood.

“To be able to sit at home and watch Jason play on the other side of the world is amazing.”

On the weekend, Holmes collected nine disposals and laid five tackles for Sandringham. The week before, he played his best game since taking up football two years ago.

While not fully across the sport’s technicalities and subtleties, Kevin can appreciate the commitment required to succeed and his son’s improvement.

“I’ve seen him play a few times before but this time he looked more comfortable from a tactical standpoint. I was really impressed with his performance. He seemed to be very comfortable out there,” he said of his son.

“I have the basic rules. The more technical rules and the culture, I’m not that knowledgeable about.

“It’s very physical and there is a lot of discipline.”

Kevin and Mary Holmes enjoyed the benefits of driving a Toyota during their stay in Melbourne, and having spent the majority of his career in Europe, Kevin did not have any issues driving on the left side of the road.

“In the US we drive on the right, but I played in Greece and other countries where I learned to drive on the left,” he said with a smile

“So it wasn’t a problem. We are very thankful to Toyota and the AFL for giving us the use of a car here during our stay. We appreciate the support from that perspective but also Tony Brown and the St Kilda Football Club more generally.”