Geelong defender Sam De Koning (bottom) is under pressure from Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Kardinia Park, Thursday 7:30pm)
This game is going to be hard to beat for match of the round. Not only are two of the best teams facing off, but former Bulldog Bailey Smith will take on his old side for the very first time. And after all the barbs he has already sent his former club’s way throughout the season, rest assured there will be no shortage of spice in this blockbuster encounter. The Cats roared back to life last week by ruthlessly dismantling the Power in Adelaide, while the Bulldogs were even more merciless in their encounter with Essendon, wiping the Bombers off the park at Marvel Stadium in a one-sided demolition. Both teams head into this match in red-hot form and with the same record (6-4). Geelong will be without inspirational captain Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Bowes due to hamstring injuries, but regain key duo Tom Stewart and Rhys Stanley. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs resisted the temptation of naming Adam Treloar (calf) or Liam Jones (calf). This has all the makings of a thriller and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dogs finished with their noses in front.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 17 points.

ESSENDON v RICHMOND (MCG, Friday 7:40pm)
The Bombers and Tigers head into the 21st Dreamtime clash after disappointing losses. Essendon was obliterated by the Bulldogs and Richmond handed lowly North Melbourne its second win of the year. But if it’s one thing the Dons do well, it’s take care of the sides that are below them on the ladder, and with key Richmond bookends Tom Lynch (concussion) and Noah Balta (curfew) both making way, the Bombers’ hopes of winning three consecutive Dreamtime games for the first time in over a decade have received a big boost.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Essendon by 21 points.

CARLTON v GWS (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 12:35pm)
The Giants are currently in their biggest funk of the Adam Kingsley era, and the first half of 2023 doesn’t count as that was still a feeling out period in his rookie year in the job. After winning four of the first five games, they’ve now lost four of their last five to find themselves clinging to a top-eight spot. But Carlton has hardly been impressive either. A dour win over St Kilda has been sandwiched between a pair of disappointing losses to Adelaide and Sydney. The Blues just don’t look as though they have many strings to their bow. The possible returns of Tom De Koning (throat), Blake Acres (shoulder) and Lachie Fogarty (hamstring) would help, but in-form defender Jack Silvagni (groin) is no certainty. Finn Callaghan (shoulder) is a huge out for GWS, but while the Giants have lost five of their last six at this venue, expect them to snap out of their malaise and get their campaign back on track.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 9 points.

HAWTHORN v BRISBANE (MCG, Saturday 4:15pm)
If the Cats and Dogs have top billing for the round, then this clash isn’t a bad support act at all. What has happened to the Lions lately? A draw with North Melbourne followed by a loss to the Demons at the Gabba! It’s fair to say that nobody saw that pair of results coming. They take on a Hawthorn side coming back from Darwin, but as the Bulldogs showed last week, the draining Top End conditions don’t necessarily have to impact you the following round. This will be an interesting test for the Hawks, who have looked pretty good this year but the highest-ranked team they’ve beaten so far is GWS (eighth). They now have a premiership threat (albeit out of form) to contend with and could recall star quartet Jack Gunston, Lloyd Meek, Jarman Impey and Conor Nash in one go. Meanwhile, the Lions should get back Oscar McInerney (soreness) and Jarrod Berry (concussion) and it feels as though they are out to make a statement after a stunningly bad fortnight. And what better way to make that than by taking down a top-four fancy?
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 15 points.

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NORTH MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7:35pm)
The last time these two sides met, they played out an all-time classic as the Magpies wiped out a 54-point deficit to win by a solitary point and complete one of the biggest comebacks in VFL/AFL history. The Kangaroos have their tails up after breaking through for their second win of the year last week, and if they play like they did against Collingwood last time for a more sustained period, they’ll be half a chance of causing the upset of the season. And the return of emerging forward Paul Curtis will help their cause too. Unfortunately, though, they will be playing against the premiership favourites who are just so well-drilled in every aspect of the game, it would be hard to envisage them dropping a game to a bottom-two side, despite how agonisingly close North got last year.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 33 points.

FREMANTLE v PORT ADELAIDE (Optus Stadium, Saturday 6:10pm)
The Dockers might be one of the most unpredictable and disappointing sides in the league, but it’s fair to say that the Power’s campaign is already as good as done. The decision to announce the coaching handover on the eve of the season has clearly backfired. The effort and desire from Port’s players has fluctuated way too wildly this year already, and has been bordering non-existent on multiple occasions, especially in the three losses by at least 76 points they’ve already copped. All of that has amounted to a virtual gap year for the Power, which is underscored by the fact that they find themselves in the bottom four currently. Fremantle is hardly a reliable quantity, and as impressive as its road win over GWS was last week, let’s not forget it has lost to Sydney, Melbourne and St Kilda this year too. But one thing is for sure, Justin Longmuir’s men are playing with more spirit than the Power and with important Port trio Jason Horne-Francis (hamstring), Lachie Jones (hamstring) and Josh Sinn (hip) all out, it should ensure victory for the hosts.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 29 points.

ADELAIDE v WEST COAST (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 12:40pm)
The Eagles finally broke through for their first win of the year last week, ending the club’s second-worst losing streak which stretched 11 matches. But it seems as though they’re going to receive an almighty reality check this round when they come up against a strong Adelaide outfit still smarting from being bested by Collingwood for the 10th consecutive time – the last five of which by an average of just four points. Expect the Crows to take out their frustrations on last-placed West Coast as they look to stay in touch with the top four and earn an unprecedented sixth win in a row against the Eagles.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 53 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 30 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 27 points.

MELBOURNE v SYDNEY (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm)
Riding high from one of the upsets of the year, the Demons head into this match full of confidence after taking down the Lions in Brisbane. And to their credit, they’re hanging in there. After losing their first five matches, they’ve managed to stabilise things with four wins from their past five outings. The Swans are also 4-6 and with impressive wins over GWS and Carlton in the past three weeks, they too look like they’re slowly turning things around. Callum Mills could finally return to Sydney’s line-up, but the losses of Justin McInerney and Joel Amartey to suspension hurt, especially with Errol Gulden (ankle), Tom Papley (foot), Harry Cunningham (foot), Robbie Fox (calf), Lewis Melican (suspension) and Logan McDonald (ankle) all still unavailable. Jake Lever (ankle) and Jack Viney (concussion) could return for the Demons who should be good enough to get the job done again.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 25 points.

ST KILDA v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4:40pm)
The Saints might be 13th on the ladder, but this still presents a test for the third-placed Suns who dropped a “gimme” game at this very venue just five weeks ago against lowly Richmond. Gold Coast should certainly have won that match, and it can expect to come up against similarly physical and defensive tactics from St Kilda, which is smarting from handing West Coast its first win of 2025 last round. The red-hot Suns have knocked off flag threats the Bulldogs and Hawthorn in the past two weeks, but the footy world will get a much better idea of how much Gold Coast has matured this week in a match it should certainly win if it has designs on a maiden finals campaign. A win on Sunday evening would see the Suns register their best ever start to a season (8-2). Making their task easier is the big omission of star Jack Macrae (lung) from the Saints’ midfield.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 37 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 67
RONNY 58
ROCKET 56

*all times are local