Hawthorn’s Josh Ward gets a handball away ahead of Essendon’s Xavier Duursma last year. Photo: AFL MEDIA

RICHMOND v CARLTON (MCG, Thursday 7:30pm)
The anticipation surrounding the traditional early-season clash between the Tigers and Blues certainly isn’t what it once was as Richmond finds itself in the unusual position of being at rock bottom after producing it worst-ever season last year. The Tiger Army will get some joy out of seeing new trio Sam Lalor, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong all playing their first games, but it’s certainly going to be a baptism of fire for those 2024 draftees. While Carlton will be missing Charlie Curnow (knee), Nic Newman (knee), Elijah Hollands (personal) and Alex Cincotta (hip), the task of dispensing with last year’s wooden spooners shouldn’t be a very taxing one as the Blues aim to beat Richmond in three consecutive meetings for the first time in 13 years. Former GWS defender Nick Haynes and ex-Port Adelaide forward Francis Evans will make their club debuts for the Blues, while father-son recruit Lucas Camporeale will play his first AFL game.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 38 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 45 points.

HAWTHORN v ESSENDON (MCG, Friday 7:40pm)
Fresh from their spectacular Cinderella campaign last year which saw them make it all the way to the semi-finals, the Hawks wasted little time in demonstrating that that form is the rule and not the exception. Last week, they made an early-season statement by toppling runner-up Sydney on its home deck to be installed as premiership favourites. That might be a little premature, but it’s understandable why fickle fans have thrown their money at Hawthorn. They look sensational. It’s going to be a big task for the Bombers first up, but after having their game against Gold Coast postponed last week due to Cyclone Alfred, they’ll just be happy to be out there playing a game. Exciting small forward Isaac Kako will play his first match for the Bombers, as will former Lion Jaxon Prior, but their club debuts won’t finish with a Gatorade shower as the Hawks look to snap a four-game losing streak against their fierce rival.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 15 points.

GEELONG v FREMANTLE (Kardinia Park, Saturday 1:20pm)
The Cats also had their season opener against Brisbane last week rescheduled, and now they get to play their first game of 2025 in front of their home crowd. But Kardinia Park isn’t the intimidating fortress it once was for so many years. Geelong has now lost six of its last 16 matches at the venue, and one of those defeats was inflicted by Fremantle last time it travelled there two years ago. Boom recruit Bailey Smith is expected to make his highly-anticipated club debut for the Cats in what will be his first game since 2023. But lots of uncertainty surrounds the Dockers’ line up with question marks over former Tiger Shai Bolton (leg), Alex Pearce (ankle), Nat Fyfe (knee), Michael Walters (knee) and Josh Draper (hamstring) while Hayden Young (hamstring) and Sean Darcy (ankle) are unavailable. All of those personnel issues could be enough on their own to tilt the contest in Geelong’s favour.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 13 points.

SYDNEY v BRISBANE (SCG, Saturday 4:15pm)
The Swans’ Dean Cox era got off to a bumpy start in Opening Round courtesy of the Hawks, and the challenges keep coming for Sydney with a grand final rematch against the Lions next on the schedule. And boy do the Swans have some atoning to do for their latest putrid performance in a premiership decider. The bad news for Sydney is that it will still be missing Errol Gulden (ankle), Callum Mills (foot), Harry Cunningham (foot), Logan McDonald (ankle) and Robbie Fox (calf) as well as recent injury list addition Taylor Adams (hamstring). Adding to the Swans’ woes is the fact that Brisbane has every listed premiership player from last year fit and available, as well as gun ruckman Oscar McInerney, so we could very well see a repeat result of the 2024 grand final, but not necessarily the margin.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v NORTH MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7:35pm)
It is a nice touch that these two clubs, who are both celebrating their 100-year anniversaries of joining the VFL/AFL this season, face each other in their respective first games of 2025. And it already looms as a ‘banana skin’ game for the Dogs because they will be missing inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf), Adam Treloar (calf), Cody Weightman (knee), Liam Jones (hamstring) and Jason Johannisen (hamstring), while Ed Richards (calf), Bailey Dale (quad), Rhylee West (hamstring) and Laitham Vandermeer (concussion) will all need to pass fitness tests. The new-look Kangaroos are close to full strength, and will almost certainly show off new recruits Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling for the first time. North has a habit of pinching an early win or two in recent seasons, so this one could go right down to the wire.
RONNY’S TIP: North Melbourne by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 7 points.

COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE (MCG, Saturday 7:35pm)
Are the Magpies experiencing a bit of deja vu? Port Adelaide will certainly be hoping so. Collingwood has started this season in almost identical fashion to last – getting spanked by GWS in Sydney. If the similarities continue in 2025, then the Pies would be at risk of starting 0-3, which obviously means the Power will get their season off to a winning start. It’s tempting to overreact after one game, but the Magpies really looked slow and old against the Giants last week, and it’s certainly something that wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by Port Adelaide. Thankfully for the Pies, new recruit Dan Houston is available, after completing his suspension, as is Mason Cox (finger). However, Jordan De Goey (knee) is still a week away, Tom Mitchell (foot) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (knee) are unavailable, and Josh Daicos (ankle) and Jeremy Howe (knee) are both under clouds. The Power aren’t full strength either with Zak Butters (knee), Todd Marshall (Achilles) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (back) absent and if Esava Ratugolea (knee) fails to come up as well, that would be a huge double blow to their backline.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 7 points.

ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 12:05pm)
Both of these teams have a point to prove after missing the finals last year, but the microscope will be on the Crows in particular this season given it’s now been eight years since they last finished in the top eight. And they have absolutely no excuses this week. They are basically full strength for this clash while the Saints will be missing Max King (knee), Mitch Owens (shoulder), Liam Henry (knee), Dan Butler (Achilles), Dougal Howard (shoulder), Cooper Sharman (thumb), Mattaes Phillipou (leg) and Paddy Dow (knee). That’s just too many soldiers to replace.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 27 points.

MELBOURNE v GWS (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm)
The Orange Tsunami was back in all its glory last week as the rampaging Giants overwhelmed the sorry Magpies in brutal fashion. But can Adam Kingsley’s men translate that stunning play onto the wide expanses of the MCG? Why not? GWS has won three of its last four matches at the ground, and took care of Melbourne in its last outing there. In fact, the only loss for the Giants at the home of football during that period was by one point to Collingwood in a preliminary final. However, Tom Green (calf) is still no guarantee, and GWS will still be missing Jesse Hogan (thumb), who was instrumental in that Round 21 win over Melbourne last year, Jake Stringer (hamstring), Jake Riccardi (suspension), Harvey Thomas (suspension) and Toby McMullin (suspension), while Kieren Briggs (concussion) makes way as well. The Demons have had their fair share of significant off-field and on-field dramas over the last couple of seasons, but if they can somehow put that all behind them, they still have a list that’s capable of big things. Kysaiah Pickett (suspension), Judd McVee (hamstring) and Jake Melksham (hamstring) are the only notable absentees for them this week so they’ve got a good chance to start 2025 on a winning note.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 11 points.

WEST COAST v GOLD COAST (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3:10pm)
Like the Kangaroos, the Eagles will be keen to show off their new toys this week and there’s no doubt that Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Matt Owies add some much-needed quality to one of the competition’s biggest strugglers of recent years. This venue played host to a classic episode of the flaky Suns last season. With their faint finals hopes still alive in Round 21, and playing West Coast, who only had three wins to that point of the season, Gold Coast managed to lose by 10 points to knock themselves out of finals contention. The Suns should be good enough to get the job done, but it would not be surprising to see them get spooked again.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 4 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 19 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 1
ROCO 1
ROCKET 1

*all times are local