GEELONG'S reaction to the poster of Gary Ablett in a Gold Coast guernsey has been one of extreme displeasure, but Cameron Mooney says the man himself has at least been able to see the lighter side of the newspaper stunt.

Club chief executive Brian Cook earlier this week called for sanctions to be leveled at the Gold Coast Football Club over the digitally-altered image that appeared in the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Coach Mark Thompson followed that up by labeling the poster "cheeky" and unethical, but Mooney said Ablett and his teammates hadn't been drawn into the dispute.

"He's got a great sense of humour, Gaz, and he's extremely mentally strong," Mooney said on Wednesday, adding that he didn't think Ablett looked as good in the poster as he does in the Cats' blue and white hoops.

"It's a pretty tough position that he's in right now. Everyone's demanding that he gives an answer and all that kind of stuff, but he's handling it well. As far as the players are concerned we're right behind him and we know he's going to give us 100 per cent effort.

"His melon looked quite big in that photo, [but] he'd be happy with the arms because he's got tuck shop arms [in real life]."

Mooney's words echoed the club's official line that Ablett's pending decision on his playing future had not become a distraction with the Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn his side's sole focus.   

Veteran defender Darren Milburn won't play any part in the much-anticipated match after suffering a hamstring tear in round one and Mooney unsure who was in line to take his place.

"I only found out today that the old man has finally broken down so I'm not sure what we're going to do there," he said.

"James Podsiadly had a really good game on the weekend so he might come in. Whether a defender goes out and a defender comes in or a forward comes in I'm not sure."

Podsiadly pushed his case for a long-awaited AFL debut with a 6.5 effort, but with Mooney and Tom Hawkins clearly ahead of him in the tall forward pecking order, he faces a tough task to break into the side.

"To be honest we haven't really played together that much and I haven't played with three talls so it would be something new," Mooney said of the elevated rookie's possible inclusion.

"Whether we push two up the ground and have one back [in the goal square], or it might give myself or Hawko a chance to run in the ruck I'm not sure. They're the little things that we'll work out.

"I think most teams go with two talls, so it's something we'd have to work on. But I hope he does get a chance and I know he will get a chance sometime down the track.

"Whether it's this week or not, he'll definitely play for the Cats this year."