Richmond’s Kamdyn McIntosh chases down Carlton youngster Ollie Hollands during last year’s season-opening draw. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

CARLTON v RICHMOND (MCG, Thursday 7:30pm local time)
After a footy-free first weekend in Melbourne, the AFL has made up for lost time with the first three games of Round 1 held at the MCG, and a fourth staged there on Sunday. The first of those match-ups is the traditional Round 1 meeting between old rivals Carlton and Richmond. The Tigers used to dominate these fixtures, winning nine in a row between 2013 and 2021. But the tide has begun to turn in recent years with a Carlton win and a draw in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and after last weekend’s showing from both teams, it’s hard to see that new trend being bucked. Carlton’s and Richmond’s matches against Brisbane and Gold Coast respectively followed similar scripts. The Lions and Suns utterly dominated their first halves before the Blues and Tigers fought back. However, unlike Richmond, Carlton clawed themselves all the way back from 46 points down to win a classic by a point and end Brisbane’s 14-game winning streak at the Gabba. The only dampener on a memorable night for the Blues was the devastating news that much-loved Sam Docherty suffered a third ACL injury and will miss the remainder of the season. Richmond welcome back big guns Dustin Martin, Toby Nankervis and Tom Lynch for his first game in almost 12 months after overcoming a nasty foot injury. Rhyan Mansell also returns while club debutants Jacob Koschitzke and Sam Naismith were both axed along with Sam Banks and Samson Ryan. The extra star power will definitely help the Tigers, but it probably won’t be enough to stop the Blues.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 27 points.

COLLINGWOOD v SYDNEY (MCG, Friday 7:40pm local time)
After a rocky start to their premiership defence last week, the Magpies will want to put in a much better showing for their flag unfurling against the Swans this week. Like the footy world has done for the past two years, it waited and waited for the Collingwood comeback against GWS, but it never came. At least this week the Pies will almost certainly have star defender Jeremy Howe (calf) back in the line-up. They take on a Sydney side fresh from a very impressive performance against fellow top-four fancy Melbourne. But as good as the Swans were in their 22-point win, it would be very surprising to see the Magpies start the year with consecutive losses, especially on such a big occasion on Friday night in front of their beloved black-and-white army.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 9 points.

ESSENDON v HAWTHORN (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm local time)
The season hasn’t even begun yet and already the Hawks have adopted the unwanted moniker of “walking wounded”. They head into their first game against arch rival Essendon without Will Day (foot), Chad Wingard (Achilles), Changkuoth Jiath (hamstring), Bailey Macdonald (leg) and James Blanck (knee). Denver Grainger-Barras (toe) also robs them of an option in the key position posts. And while Dylan Moore (glandular fever) and Seamus Mitchell (jaw) look set to be available, that’s a lot of holes to fill for a team that finished in the bottom three last year. The Bombers haven’t escaped the pre-season unscathed either, with prime movers Jordan Ridley (quad) and Darcy Parish (hamstring) ruled out, but Dylan Shiel (foot) is pressing for selection and young gun Ben Hobbs (shoulder) and Jake Kelly (hamstring) are putting their hands up too. The Hawks can be a tricky proposition, but the Dons should be good enough to handle them.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 18 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 11 points.

GWS v NORTH MELBOURNE (Giants Stadium, Saturday 4:35pm local time)
After four years from hell, the Kangaroos have been shown no leniency from the league’s fixture makers and have been thrown straight into the deep end to face premiership contender GWS on its home deck fresh from a magnificent win over the reigning champs Collingwood. North Melbourne already had the weakest backline in the competition on paper this year, but if Aidan Corr (ankle) and Luke McDonald (hamstring) fail fitness tests, on top of Griffin Logue (knee) already expected to miss a big chunk of the year, the Giants’ powerful forward line, featuring the likes of Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Brent Daniels, Jake Riccardi, Callum Brown and Aaron Cadman, could go absolutely berserk – especially with Kangas co-captain Jy Simpkin (concussion) unavailable to try stem the flow of supply from the middle of the ground. GWS lose Callan Ward (shoulder), but could welcome back a quality pair in Finn Callaghan (shoulder/foot) and Harry Perryman (hamstring).
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 78 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 38 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 41 points.

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GEELONG v ST KILDA (Kardinia Park, Saturday 7:30pm local time)
If this game was played anywhere else but the Cattery, it would be much easier to pick the Saints. Even though Geelong lost three games at its vaunted home ground last year for the first time since 2015, the venue still has an aura about it for visiting teams and tipsters alike. But it’s probably a bit more intimidating than the actual footy team it houses these days. After failing to make the finals last year for just the third time in 20 seasons, the Cats still have the second-oldest list in the competition and continue to rely way too heavily on older players with almost half of their best side still aged 30 or over. Meanwhile, the Saints have acquired even more speed across half-back/on the wing with former Docker Liam Henry, and he’ll be joined in the side by impressive draftee Darcy Wilson. However, the thing that might just tip the scales in Geelong’s favour is the fact they are close to full strength with only Cam Guthrie (quad) and Gary Rohan (back) unavailable. St Kilda, on the other hand, could be without superstar defender Jack Sinclair (back) which would further decimate their defence considering Hunter Clark (calf), Jimmy Webster (suspension) and Dougal Howard (hamstring) have already been ruled out. Suffice to say, Cats forward quartet Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Ollie Henry and Tyson Stengle will be licking their chops. Dan Butler (ankle) and Jack Hayes (knee) will be absent in the Saints’ attack, too. In some good news for them, though, Marcus Windhager (hand) and Zak Jones (concussion) should be right to go.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 9 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 15 points.

GOLD COAST v ADELAIDE (Carrara, Saturday 7:10pm local time)
The Suns couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the Damien Hardwick era with a devastating first half that set up a comfortable 39-point victory over Richmond. But they face a much sterner test this week in the form of Adelaide. This writer is extremely bullish on the Crows’ chances of jumping as high up as the top four this year after missing the finals in 2023. Even without bookends Riley Thilthorpe and Nick Murray for the first half of the season due to knee injuries, the Crows loom as one of the most exciting teams in the competition after boasting the No.1 ranked forward line in the league last season. However, the Suns are basically full strength again this week, and with Adelaide missing Taylor Walker (back), Rory Sloane (back) and Harry Schoenberg (Achilles), Matthew Nicks’ men will find it tough to get the win.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 17 points.

MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Sunday 1pm local time)
Melbourne fans must’ve been watching the first half against the Swans with a dreaded feeling of deja vu as their team booted 1.6 in the first quarter, continuing their much-publicised forward-50 struggles which were central to their second consecutive straight-sets finals exit last year. While they improved to convert seven of their next nine shots at goal, the damage had already been done. The losses of Jake Melksham (ACL) and Joel Smith (suspension) up forward look even more significant now, but the potential return of Harrison Petty (toe) would be a huge boost this week. However, Jake Bowey (hamstring) joins Lachie Hunter (calf), Shane McAdam (hamstring), Melksham and Smith on the sidelines. What the Demons would do to have the kind of options in attack that the Bulldogs have. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman are all capable of ripping a game to shreds. The Dogs will be hoping Bailey Dale (hamstring) will be available, but Bailey Smith (ACL) will miss the entire season. Despite their well-documented scoring issues, the Demons have had the Dogs’ measure recently, and should rebound from last week’s loss.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 19 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v WEST COAST (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 3:30pm local time)
To say that the Eagles are starting from scratch would be an understatement. The reigning wooden spooners were reminiscent of the doomed 1996 Fitzroy side for large parts of last season and have acres of room for improvement in every department of the game. Like fellow strugglers North, they have been done absolutely no favours in their season opener, thrust into the lion’s den of a top-four contender. While West Coast should garner some excitement from the imminent unveiling of top pick Harley Reid, Port Adelaide could blood all four of their new recruits Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordon Sweet and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in what promises to be a big day out for Ken Hinkley’s team.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 66 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 52 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 67 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3:50pm local time)
The Dockers are another team which has had an unsettled lead-up to the start of the season. Star ruckman Sean Darcy (knee), Nathan O’Driscoll (knee) and defender Heath Chapman (hamstring) have already been ruled out this week while key duo Michael Frederick (hamstring) and Brennan Cox (leg) are no guarantees of lining up either. Freo face a dangerous proposition in the form of premiership contender Brisbane on the rebound after giving up an eight-goal lead at home. The Lions will be seething and although the loss of star backman Keidean Coleman (ACL) is enormous, they’ve won seven of their last nine matches against the Dockers by an average of 38 points. Since the start of 2022, Brisbane has suffered back-to-back losses on just one occasion, so they are one of the best teams in the competition at responding to disappointment.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 31 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCKET 2
RONNY 1
ROCO 1