Geelong and Hawthorn face challenging AFL assignments with depleted sides on Sunday, as Cats stars Matthew Scarlett and Cameron Mooney headline the suspension list.

The two Geelong linchpins, along with Hawthorn's Michael Osborne and Liam Shiels, were hit with one-match bans, continuing the fallout from Monday's bruising MCG encounter.

Both clubs have until Wednesday to decide whether to challenge the decisions.

Scarlett, Osborne and Shiels would risk two-game suspensions if they fight the charges at the tribunal, while Mooney can only cop a one-match penalty either way.

The match review panel decisions add to the loss from injuries both clubs sustained in the hard-hitting clash.

Cats first-game forward Steven Motlop will visit a surgeon on Wednesday to assess a serious shoulder injury, while Scarlett (back) is in doubt for Sunday's trip to Subiaco to play in-form Fremantle regardless of his ban.

The Hawks lost small forward Rhan Hooper for up to a month with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Jordan Lewis (ankle) might also miss Sunday's Etihad Stadium match against the Western Bulldogs.

Adding to their task, the Hawks and Cats will go into Sunday's matches with one fewer day's break than their respective opponents and coming off a far more gruelling contest.

Fullback Scarlett was charged with kneeing Osborne in the groin in the opening term.

Mooney was charged over a high bump on Rick Ladson in the second quarter.

That incident was graded low enough that the aggressive forward, who shone with four goals, could have avoided suspension if not for a penalty loading for prior offences.

Osborne was charged with making forceful front-on high contact to Joel Selwood in the final term.

Shiels was booked over an off-the-ball strike on Cats skipper Cameron Ling midway through the first term, which while of low impact, was graded high enough for a ban because it was deemed intentional.

Speaking before the match review panel findings were announced, Hawks midfielder Chance Bateman said the physical clashes were almost inevitable given the nature of contests between the two rivals.

"It was a bit of a by-product of the game and playing against a team like Geelong - they're such bruising encounters and sometimes players can be a bit over-zealous," he said.

Mooney's suspension could open the door for an AFL debut for Geelong mature age recruit James Podsiadly.

But it leaves the Cats badly depleted in attack.

They were already without Max Rooke - expected to have another VFL hit-out after playing half a game as he returns from a knee complaint - Travis Varcoe (thumb), Mathew Stokes (club-imposed suspension) and now Motlop.

Their defence has also been hard hit, with Scarlett joining fellow veteran Darren Milburn (hamstring), who is likely to miss a second game.

The Hawks have also had an unsettled start to the season, with Lance Franklin and Chance Bateman having returned on Monday from suspensions stemming from last season, while the club has a substantial injury list.

Meanwhile, three players submitted early guilty pleas and accepted sanctions over charges arising from matches earlier in the long weekend.

Brisbane's Jared Brennan will miss one match for making forceful front-on contact to Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer.

West Coast's Shannon Hurn copped a two-game suspension for a head-high bump on Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart.

And Essendon's Courtenay Dempsey accepted a reprimand for striking Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP