Cameron Ling and Meg McDonald were joined by emerging star, Max Holmes on this week's episode of 'To the Final Bell.' 

They reviewed the big round one win over Fremantle, while also taking a look ahead to Saturday's clash with St Kilda. 

See the best moments below from this week's episode. 

Reviewing the big round one win

(Timestamp: 5:18 - 15:48) 

Cameron Ling: "I am glad you mentioned Sam De Koning."

Meg McDonald: "Let's start there. His brother played very well on Thursday night, Sam acknowledged that and also that Nankervis also played very well. But he just went out and did his own thing, we loved it."

Cameron Ling: "He found the footy too, it wasn't just the ruck and marking contests down the line. It felt like another midfielder."

Meg McDonald: "Lets just remember how I was talking about his handballing, he can release a teammate into space that man. I missed his goal in the last quarter, but I loved that too."

Cameron Ling: "I am not going to get completely ahead of myself, but if he can find the footy like that and hit the scoreboard like that on a regular basis, that gets very exciting."

Meg McDonald: "When Luke Jackson was playing forward, I thought Blicavs athleticism was a good match for him. That is the flexibility that we speak about all the time, that came to play in the fourth quarter when we needed to pull a few levers and change some things up."

48:18

To The Final Bell Round 2 | Max Holmes Chats Through BIG Freo Win!

Max Holmes joins the studio to talk about Geelong's dominant win over the Dockers in Round 1, as the Cats look ahead to another big clash against the Saints on Saturday night! Proudly Presented by GMHBA.

Max Holmes joins the podcast

(Timestamp: 17:52 - 30:38) 

Cameron Ling: "Watching a couple of training sessions, one of my big takeaways was your increased command of the group. I could sense a total belief in you that not only were you lifting your standards, but I could sense a belief that you were dragging the standard of the entire group up to a whole new level.

"Is that something that you feel now as you have gained more confidence in the way you play?"

Max Holmes: "Yeah absolutely, I think that is definitely how I felt this pre-season and it is good that you can see that.

"In the past I have done a lot of work with 'Danger,' even just mental stuff with him. We have spoken about it before, and this was the same last year when I was playing well, but I said to him when we were losing last year that I felt like I wasn't quite getting it enough.

"We talked together about wanting to be able to win a game and take control, I feel like I want to get to that stage where if needed I can come out and have control over a game. I feel like as well as I went last year, I didn't do that at all so this pre-season I have been trying to do that.

"In addition to that I have been trying to be more of a leader and trying to help out the other boys as much as I can."

08:15

AFL Highlights | Round 1

The Cats and Dockers clash in round one of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Diving into the fan questions

(Timestamp: 32:29 – 48:00) 

Cameron Ling: "If you had to describe the Cats about three words, what would they be?

"Can I throw one out there? Evolving.

"Maybe I am a little bit more focused on the midfield than other parts, but that exciting evolution of that part of the ground with different personnel is evolving."

Meg McDonald: "I am going to say, consistent.

"That might be aspirational in terms of on field results, but I think 'Stewy' spoke about it last week and my impression is that is how you continue to be close to the top of your game."

Cameron Ling: "For the third, they are just loved. They are loved by me, I am sure by you and by lots and lots of Cats fans."