Happier times for the Pies, during their home and away win over Geelong in Perth last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
Neutral venues and empty stadiums. It can only mean one thing – COVID is back for a second helping of AFL fixture mayhem. And while we’ve already had smaller tastes of it this year with capped capacities at stadiums and a few Perth games going ahead without crowds, this is clearly the biggest disruption the 2021 season has experienced. All three Melbourne games this weekend will feature no supporters in the stands, sadly starting with the most anticipated match of the year on Friday night, and two other games have been shifted from their original venue. The heavyweight showdown between the two best teams of the first 10 rounds, the Bulldogs and Melbourne, would have ordinarily ensured Marvel Stadium would be heaving with rabid fans from both sides, but it still promises to be an epic encounter even without that electric atmosphere. It might even be a grand final preview. There are stars all over the park in this one, from Bontempelli to Petracca, Liberatore to Oliver, May to Daniel and Naughton to Gawn. The Dogs regain Tim English and Pat Lipinski, but lose Adam Treloar (ankle) – and it’s a good thing that their midfield is so stacked this year, because it’s also still missing Josh Dunkley. Meanwhile, Christian Salem is a massive inclusion for the Demons. With very little separating these two juggernauts who occupy the top two rungs on the ladder with 9-1 records, apart from the big gulf in percentage, this contest has all the hallmarks of a potential classic. However, the Bulldogs have looked downright scary at Docklands this year, winning all five of their games there by an average of 65 points – including a pair of triple-figure thumpings of North Melbourne and St Kilda which rank first and fifth respectively in the club’s biggest-ever wins. The fact they came within the space of eight weeks underscores how incredible the form Luke Beveridge’s side finds itself in. The arena’s usually sterile conditions will be impacted to a degree by the roof being open to keep in line with COVID protocols, but rain is not expected at the time of the game. The Eagles and Blues got close to knocking off the Dogs at their favourite stadium, so the Demons are more than capable of rebounding from their first loss of the year last week, but the Dogs should be just too good.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 2 points.

COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
The second game of the weekend scheduled to feature no fans, but with the Magpies’ last three Melbourne crowds failing to crack 25,000, maybe the black-and-white army will welcome the enforced spell. In fairness, Nathan Buckley’s men showed renewed fighting spirit last week in falling agonisingly short by one point against top-four threat Port Adelaide, but it’s hard to see them repeating the dose against a premiership contender in the Cats, who have now won seven of their last nine games. The Pies’ only hope of threatening for the win is turning the contest into a low-scoring scrap, and even then Geelong should have them covered.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 26 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 28 points.

BRISBANE v GWS (Gabba, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
Thanks to the Bulldogs and Demons, the Lions have been able to fly under the radar to an extent despite being one of the hottest teams in the competition. Brisbane has now won its last six games in a row by an average of seven goals and is really building a head of steam nearing the halfway mark of the season, especially as two of those victories have been comprehensive performances against highly-rated Port Adelaide and Richmond. The Giants have been admirable in winning five of their last seven games despite a monumental injury list, but with yet another key player Sam Taylor (ankle) joining their bulging medical ward, surely they’ve reached a critical mass? Especially against one of the best teams on its home deck.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 40 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 30 points.

ST KILDA v NORTH MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
After encouraging performances from both sides the week before, the Saints and Kangaroos returned to rock bottom last round with dismal displays against the Bulldogs and Essendon respectively. St Kilda coach Brett Ratten intimated there would be wholesale changes to the side after its 111-point smashing at the hands of the Dogs, but only made two unforced omissions. The Saints’ best isn’t too bad, as evidenced by wins against GWS, West Coast and Hawthorn, but their worst is lamentable, as indicated by their paltry percentage of 72.6 – the second-worst in the AFL. But as bad as the Saints have been at times this season, they have shown they’re capable of taking care of lower-ranked teams, and should be good enough to account for the bottom-placed Kangaroos.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 20 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 16 points.

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GOLD COAST v HAWTHORN (SCG, Saturday 7.40pm local time)
With this game originally slated for Darwin, the whole neutral venue aspect loses its impact. Both sides responded from embarrassing displays the previous week to show some grit and heart in round 10. The Suns and Hawks were still in their contests with Geelong and Carlton respectively in the third quarter before eventually being overrun. But with just five wins between them, they still both reside in the bottom four. Shaun Burgoyne and Liam Shiels will be welcome returns for Hawthorn, but will they be enough to edge their side over the line? With 12 more percentage points to their credit, the Suns have been more competitive than the Hawks this year. And while Stuart Dew’s side is one of the worst in the competition when it comes to forward supply, this weekend it is facing by far the worst generator of inside 50s after 10 rounds.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 12 points.

WEST COAST v ESSENDON (Optus Stadium, Saturday 5.40pm local time)
The Bombers have been one of the more impressive teams so far this season, despite the fact they sit in 11th spot on the ladder. Not much was expected of them heading into 2021, but if you put their heavy losses to Port Adelaide and Brisbane to one side, they have been very competitive in the first 10 weeks. After winning back-to-back games for the first time since round six last year, Essendon faces another massive test in its quest to expedite its move up the ladder. Having already been humbled on interstate treks by the Power and Lions, and also pipped by the Swans and Giants, the Dons have a huge task ahead to break their interstate duck this week. The Eagles aren’t exactly setting the world on fire this year, but they are an infinitely better team at home in 2021, having won all five games at Optus Stadium by an average of six goals, compared to their 1-4 record on the road. Both teams welcome back big guns, with Elliot Yeo finally returning to West Coast’s line-up, and Jake Stringer named by the Bombers. Ben Rutten’s side is unlikely to get the win, but if it wants to prove it’s on the right track, it wouldn’t want to lose by more than three to four goals.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 36 points.

RICHMOND v ADELAIDE (Giants Stadium, Sunday 2.10pm local time)
A huge win for the Crows with this clash being shifted from the MCG to neutral territory at the Giants’ home base. Not that the home of football is proving to be the happy hunting ground for the Tigers it has been in recent years, Richmond recording a modest 3-3 record there this season. And while Damien Hardwick’s side copped a few more personnel hits on the weekend with Tom Lynch (knee) and Marlion Pickett (suspension) both unavailable, finally the calvary is starting to arrive. Trent Cotchin, Shai Bolton and Dion Prestia have all been named in the Tigers’ extended squad, and Hardwick will be hoping this will herald the beginning of his team’s assault on another flag after making another slow start to a season. The Crows’ confidence will be sky high after handing Melbourne its first loss last week, and they’ve proven that causing upsets is no fluke as they’ve also taken care of Geelong. But a hat-trick of stunners would be some achievement.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 32 points.

SYDNEY v CARLTON (SCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
The Blues did what they had to do against inferior opposition last week in Hawthorn, like they also did against Fremantle, Essendon and Gold Coast earlier this year. However, they have failed every test when playing against top-eight sides, losing to Port Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, the Bulldogs and Richmond. Will it be a case of sixth time lucky for Carlton? It’s doubtful. The Blues can be fully expected to give the Swans a run for their money and have a decent crack, but they just don’t seem to be on the same level of seemingly finals-bound sides, despite the bold declaration from their president Mark LoGiudice in the pre-season. The Swans are by no means guaranteed a win here, but having turned the SCG back into a fortress again (they’re 4-1 there in 2021), they should be just too good.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 20 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4.50pm local time)
This looms as a bit of a danger game for the Power, who have endured an indifferent fortnight consisting of a loss to the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval, and an unconvincing one-point win against bottom-three Collingwood. The Dockers ended a three-game losing streak last week in thrilling fashion, with a two-point victory over the Swans, to stabilise their season at 5-5, and are also boosted by the return of Andrew Brayshaw. However, their road form this year is worrying (1-4) and although that one victory did come at this venue, they’re playing a much different side this time around. The Power are hard to beat at their home base (4-1 in 2021) and, with Orazio Fantasia expected to return, should continue pressing for a top four spot.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 24 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 59
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 62