Geelong forward James Podsiadly says there’s a strong AFL rivalry between the Cats and Fremantle but he’s happy to give credit to controversial Docker Ryan Crowley.

Crowley once again got under the skins of the Geelong players as his team scored an upset win in Saturday’s qualifying final at Simonds Stadium and even after the final siren the Cats were clashing with the Fremantle tagger.

Steve Johnson shook hands with Crowley during a heated post-siren argument that involved Crowley grabbing the Cats star by the collar and jumper-punching him, while Crowley also exchanged words with Geelong captain Joel Selwood moments later.

Coach Ross Lyon admitted he’d made a mistake by not starting the game with Crowley on Johnson — who had 12 touches and two goals by quarter-time.

Johnson had just eight more possessions and exerted little influence in the other three terms as Fremantle claimed a 15-point victory.

“His (Crowley’s) biggest attribute is he’s pretty disciplined,” Podsiadly told Seven’s Game Day program on Sunday.

“He doesn’t give away too many free kicks or doesn’t get really involved in the off-ball stuff.

“It’s a credit to him the way he has worked on his game in the last couple of years to be that kind of player.”

Podsiadly had his own face-to-face clash with a Docker, receiving a free kick before the opening bounce after an incident with Zac Dawson which resulted in Dawson’s report for striking.

“It’s a final. In the change rooms before the game, you’re just pumped up,” said Podsiadly, who led Geelong’s goalkickers with three goals.

“Walking over to fullforward, someone stepped in my way and I just started to push, just because you’re a bit sparky before a big final.

“It eventuated in me getting a free kick and unfortunately I didn’t make the most of it.

“We’ve got a good rivalry because every game we’ve played in the last three years, they’ve always been close.

“Fremantle’s one of those teams that we always have a good battle with.

“We love beating them and they love beating us.”

The Cats will host Port Adelaide in a knockout semi-final next weekend, with Podsiadly’s fellow key forward Tom Hawkins in doubt with a back injury after Hawkins was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s selected side.

Triple-premiership defender Corey Enright is also in doubt after suffering a knee injury against Fremantle.