Reigning Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and Carlton's George Hewett could be forgiven for sweating the Match Review Officer's response after the pair became entangled during Friday's fixture.

Late into the third term, the star Lion and the Blues' glue-man were captured by broadcast cameras engaging in niggly behaviour on the fringe of a ball up.

However, as the Sherrin rose, the stern contest devolved, with Hewett capturing Neale with a closed fist to the chin before the dual Brownlow winner returned serve with a closed fist of his own to the former Swan's midriff.

According to the MRO's matrix, Hewett appears to have a case to answer, with intentional, high contact graded as low impact enough to see the South Australian slapped with a one-week ban.

Neale, however, appears unlikely to have his hopes of a third Brownlow Medal dashed on his season's opening night, irrespective of the history of past penalties handed down to players who retaliate.

Should Hewett be sentenced to a week on the sidelines, the underrated Blue would miss Carlton's standard Melbourne-based opener against old rivals Richmond at the MCG on Thursday, March 14.