Mitch Knevitt's PlayStation skills, Shannon Neale's goal celebrations, Jeremy Cameron's livestreams and players' work ethic in the gym, there was no topic off-limits in the inaugural episode of Geelong Cats player podcast 'The Cats Corner.'

Spearheaded by the Western Australian trio of Lawson Humphries, Shannon Neale and recent AFL debutant, Mitch Edwards, the new podcast dives into the players' perspectives on hot topics around the AFL, while also providing insight into their personalities behind the scenes. 

Upcoming podcast episodes will also feature the likes of Shaun Mannagh, Connor O'Sullivan and George Stevens, with the hosts to rotate and provide different views on all things football. 

One of the more serious topics covered was the new rules implemented this year, specifically focusing on the last touch out of bounds rule and the new changes in the ruck. 

Round 1 debutant, Mitch Edwards was able to provide his perspective after battling Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy, while the players discussed the faster pace of the game in 2026. 

"For me especially, I really like them," Edwards said about the new ruck rules.

"As an athletic ruck, I think they are so good. It opens up the centre bounces so much more, I don't know if you have noticed it as forwards and backs, but it can come in there a lot quicker.

"It comes in a lot deeper and more dangerous, so I just think it adds another dynamic to the game where you can score out of centre bounces quickly.

"On top of that with the last touch rule, late in games it is not as easy to save the game. If you kick it near the boundary and it rolls out, it is coming straight back in."

Lawson Humphries contributed, "I reckon the first quarter goals in a lot of the games have been big. You see teams kicking seven or eight goals in the first quarter, because once their midfield gets a run on it is hard to stop.

"The Hawthorn and Sydney game last week, there was 12 or 13 goals in the first quarter and I reckon they kicked 25 for the game."

"It can catch people out too, if you are not ready and fully aware that it is not a last touch out of bounds," Shannon Neale added. 

"If a few people are thinking it is a throw in, it can really catch them off guard. There was a bit of commentary around Brad Hill doing it in the State of Origin, he was really switched on with it and as the year goes on I think people will adjust to it."

The trio were also quizzed on their teammates, tasked with ranking players based on who was most likely to turn up to the gym and not pick up a weight.

Humphries set the challenge, listing Rhys Stanley, Jeremy Cameron, Zach Guthrie, Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Bowes.

Neale was quick to add an extra name.

“Honourable mention… Ollie Dempsey,” he said. “He is in impeccable shape, but I have only ever seen him do upper body weights.”

The conversation soon turned to Guthrie, with Humphries admitting he’d recently been debating his teammate’s gym habits.

While jokingly labelling him a “dweeb,” he was quick to clarify the respect behind it and praised Guthrie’s upper body strength as “as good as anybody’s” at the club.

Neale agreed, describing him as having a “sleeper build,” before sharing a story from a dinner at Bob Gartland’s house, where Guthrie was jokingly dubbed “Zach Buffrie.”

As for the rest of the list, Stanley’s presence in the gym came under question.

“Rhys does look pretty good,” Neale said, “but I can’t say that I see him in there too often.”

Even captain Dangerfield wasn’t spared, with Neale joking he “looks at a weight and looks big."

"According to the rules here, Patrick does a lot of......."

"Talking?" Humphries interjected.