Much has been made about how Geelong can squeeze all those talls into its side.

Gerard Healy devoted an entire column in Friday's Herald Sun to handicapping the field, drawing the conclusion that Cats coach Mark Thompson might have to make a tough choice between Tom Hawkins and James Podsiadly for one of the berths, particularly with Brad Ottens set to return next week from illness.

But it now seems that the decision will be made for Thompson by the AFL's Match Review Panel, which will certainly cite Podsiadly for a clash with Bryce Gibbs late in the second term at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Podsiadly fell on Gibbs. There really is no other way to describe it. His hip collected Gibbs in the head and neck while the Carlton defender was over the ball and while umpire Matthew Nichools didn't lay a report, the MRP certainly will.

Given the lottery that the MRP findings have become, we won't even attempt to guess whether they will deem the contact to be reckless or negligent and what level of contact will be ascribed. But Podsiadly will have a case to answer and will probably miss the final home and away game of the season against West Coast next week, handing Hawkins a gilt-edged opportunity to cement a berth in the side ahead of the finals. If he misses two weeks and the Cats win their first final, you'd have to wonder whether Thompson would bring him back for a preliminary final having missed almost a month of footy.

The Cats can be a bit like the Australian cricket team - harder to get into the team than to be dropped. Podsiadly played well on Friday night with four goals, including a pearler from across his body in the third term, but will be kicking himself if he doesn't get to play next week - and potentially longer - after one of those "what was I thinking?" moments.

Hawkins wasn't too bad - 17 kicks, nine marks and two goals - but on exposed form, the J-Pod would have the edge for a place in the side, if there is a choice to be made between them.

He'll be hoping the fact that Gibbs played out the game - and with 26 touches was one of Carlton's best - will carry weight with the MRP when it comes to impact. It may well buy him a week.

And while we're on the MRP, is there any way it could meet at various stages over the weekend and spare Podsiadly a 72-hour wait? It's not unreasonable, particularly so close to the finals.

As for the Blues, the build-up starts to a massive trip to Perth a week from now. The Dockers have declared their hand by leaving eight of their better players at home for the weekend to rest up and prepare. How big the stakes are won't be known until the end of the weekend, but if the Swans beat the Bulldogs at the SCG tomorrow night, the Blues might be looking at an interstate final for the second straight year if they lose to the Dockers next week.

They weren't too bad, the Blues. They worked hard off the ball and to get the ball, but then coughed it up too often. Still, they're not the first team to crumble under a bit of defensive pressure from the Cats and they'll fancy their chances next week against Fremantle.