Richmond emerged a narrow winner last time it hosted the Dreamtime Game against Essendon in 2017. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

SYDNEY v COLLINGWOOD (SCG, Friday 7.50pm local time)
Each year the Sir Doug Nicholls Round seems to get bigger and bigger, and rightfully so, as it gives the footy world a chance to pay tribute to the incredible contribution Indigenous Australians have made to the sport over many decades. This year the festivities kick off in Sydney, where the semi-resurgent Swans face the all-conquering Magpies. Given the Swans’ 1-6 start to the year, they would have taken any win that came their way at that stage and while last-gasp wins against average teams like Essendon and North Melbourne might not be the best indication that they’ve turned the corner, it’s certainly better than the alternative. Collingwood might have won six games in a row, but the Pies seem to be flirting with their form recently, requiring final-quarter blitzes to finally shake off challenges from bottom-10 sides Carlton and St Kilda. Nathan Buckley’s men should win on Friday night, but with Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy back for Sydney, the Pies wouldn’t want to play with fire too much otherwise this time around they may just get burnt. It’s also great to see Daniel Wells back for his first game in 11 months.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 6 points.

HAWTHORN v PORT ADELAIDE (Launceston, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
You can’t help but think Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has a sense of theatre in holding Chad Wingard (hamstring) back until the Hawks faced his old side. That might just be the spark that ignites the abundantly talented All-Australian forward’s season after a so-so start to life at Waverley Park. James Frawley is also a big in for the Hawks down back. However, Ben McEvoy (ankle) is a huge loss, and while it’s offset somewhat by Port’s Scott Lycett (adductor) also missing, it could pave the way for Paddy Ryder to have a field day. It’s fair to say Jon Ceglar has his work cut out. The inclusions of Robbie Gray and Tom Jonas are also huge for the Power. This really is a tough one. Both teams are in scratchy form and have their fair share of big names missing. The Tasmania factor might just get the Hawks over the line.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 6 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 18 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v NORTH MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
The Doggies have been inconsistent this year but it’s hard to see the Kangaroos finding a way to beat them. North’s most recent defeat to Sydney in Hobart was gut-wrenching in many respects, most notably the fact that the Swans fielded 18 players with less than 100 games experience. It just isn’t working for the Roos this year. The Dogs’ best this season has been extremely impressive, and if they play near their full capabilities, it’ll be a tough afternoon for the Roos, who have just two wins to their credit so far in 2019.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 12 points.

ADELAIDE v WEST COAST (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
This time last week, I wrote that I’d start taking the Crows seriously if they were able to beat Brisbane at the Gabba. Granted, it was a one-point loss for Adelaide, but the result was in the bag late in the game for the Lions before a four-goal Adelaide flurry at the death made the scoreboard look more respectable. Yes, West Coast isn’t travelling that well, but the Eagles are still managing to rack up the wins – a sign of a great team. They also have a fantastic record at Adelaide Oval, with seven wins from nine attempts. The Crows’ recent form has been solid, but this is another step up in quality of opposition, and the reigning premier might just be too strong in the end.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 2 points.

GOLD COAST v GEELONG (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
You’ve got to love the way the Suns have gone about their footy this year. Full credit to coach Stuart Dew and his players, who have had a decent crack more often than not. But when you’re up against the premiership favourite, you need more than just effort, and this has all the makings of a brutal football lesson for the Suns. Geelong is playing a sublime brand of football which is built on super disposal efficiency all over the ground. The gulf in class and talent will be far too big for the Suns to bridge.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 67 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 54 points.

RICHMOND v ESSENDON (MCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The showpiece event of the round. Dreamtime at the ‘G. Over 80,000 are expected to attend, but if they expect to see a decent contest, they will probably be bitterly disappointed, because when you compare the way both teams have been playing recently, it’s chalk and cheese. The Tigers have rediscovered their mojo and are starting to look similar to the 2017 premiership version of themselves, even with so many key players out (a true testament to their system-over-personnel philosophy), while the Bombers have been stinking it up for the best part of a month. And now with Joe Daniher (osteitis pubis) joining Devon Smith (knee) on the sidelines for the remainder of the year, things really couldn’t get much worse for Essendon. The Dons have a woeful recent record in Dreamtime games, losing their last four, and have also lost their last eight meetings with Richmond. If the Bombers get up, it would be one of the upsets of the season.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 34 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 40 points.

MELBOURNE v GWS (MCG, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
The Giants can play as well as they like at other venues around Australia, but until they start winning at the MCG, they cannot be considered a legitimate premiership threat. They’ve won just two of 16 at the ground, and their most recent showing there in round eight against Hawthorn was described by their footy director and former Geelong great Jimmy Bartel as their worst-ever performance. Luckily for them, they don’t have to wait long to right the wrongs of that regrettable Sunday afternoon, because they’re already back at the scene of the crime. If the Giants rate themselves as one of the big boys of the competition, which for all intents and purposes they are, then a win against the Demons, who have admittedly started playing better footy recently, is a non-negotiable. Stephen Coniglio is a welcome inclusion for Greater Western Sydney.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 22 points.

ST KILDA v CARLTON (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
We saw how well the Blues responded against Collingwood after their last thumping loss to North Melbourne, but how many times can the last-placed club go to the well? Despite winning just one game so far this year, they have been competitive more often than not, but after suffering another smashing at the hands of GWS last week, have they already maxed out their effort levels for 2019 and is the bottom about to fall out? We’ll get a good indication when they face the Saints, and it won’t be an easy task. St Kilda has lost its last four games but has been far from disgraced in the last two of those against premiership contenders West Coast and Collingwood. After such a bright start to the season, the Saints’ season is precariously placed at 4-5, and a win is a must for them to stay in touch with the top eight.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 28 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
The Lions are charging towards their first finals berth in 10 years, and if they consider themselves top-eight material, then a win in hostile territory would go a long way to confirming their aspirations. They struggled to get the job done against Essendon at the MCG and the Bulldogs in Ballarat this year, but they had no such issue toppling the Dockers at Optus Stadium last year, so they will undoubtedly garner confidence from that. The Dockers are unquestionably a better team at home, but their scoring has really dried up in the last month, with an average of just 65 points per game in their last four games. Richmond proved recently that Freo is far from invincible even on its home patch, so Brisbane shouldn’t feel too overawed by the task.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 10 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 47
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 51