A jubilant pack of Swans last year after their third win in a row at Geelong. Can they make it four? Photo: GETTY IMAGES

NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
History is littered with examples of teams scoring victories on the back of their coach getting sacked, or at least putting in an improved performance, but it looked as though that already had its effect on North Melbourne last week when they sent Brad Scott out in style with an impressive win over the Western Bulldogs. But Richmond would be one of the last teams you’d want to experience a “dead cat” effect against, so Kangaroos caretaker Rhyce Shaw has quite the job ahead of himself as he becomes the 359th coach in VFL/AFL history. After a shaky start, the Tigers are nearing their very best, and with captain Trent Cotchin back this week, things are only getting better for them. With six wins from the last seven games, including the last three in a row, Richmond is generating some serious momentum and should beat the struggling Kangaroos three times in a row for the first time since 1982.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 33 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 20 points.

COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
If the Dockers were told before the season started that they’d be 5-5 and inside the top eight after 10 rounds, they would’ve gladly taken it. There’s definitely been some improvement in Fremantle so far this year, and it heads east riding high after a thrilling last-kick victory over Brisbane last week. However, the Dockers are about to get a very good indication of where they really sit in the scheme of things this week as they come up against flag contenders Collingwood in Melbourne. Oh, and that’s with the Pies having recalled Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey and Travis Varcoe. The Magpies have that premiership look about them again this year, and they’re gunning for eight wins in a row for the first time since 2012. It’s been 13 years since Freo topped the Pies at the home of football, and it’s hard to see that drought being broken anytime soon.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 36 points.

GWS v GOLD COAST (Giants Stadium, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
Again, the Suns were gallant last week and really took it up to the Cats for the best part of three quarters, but, again, they fell short in the end. In the last couple of weeks the Giants have shown how much they love coming up against easy kills as they effortlessly took care of Carlton and Melbourne. That said, the last quarter against the Demons irked GWS coach Leon Cameron as the Giants were outscored by five goals, so it would be safe to say that one of their big aims this week is to put together a four-quarter effort and hopefully achieve an all-important percentage boost. The Giants have won their last six against the Suns, including the last two by over 100 points, and a hat-trick of triple-figure smashings against their fellow expansion club would be a pretty impressive achievement.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 67 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 52 points.

GEELONG v SYDNEY (Kardinia Park, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
They couldn’t, could they? Surely the Swans’ charmed run at the Cattery is about to come to a grinding halt this week? Sydney has somehow been able to defy the fearsome reputation that is attached to Geelong’s home ground in recent years, winning its last three games there in what is truly one of the most curious and bizarre trends in recent AFL history. To put that into perspective, the Cats have lost just four of their last 32 games at the venue! But things are a lot different this time around. Geelong is the premiership favourite, while Sydney is in rebuild mode as it languishes in the bottom four. A nice storyline will feature Daniel Menzel making his club debut for the Swans against his old mob, but it’s going to be a pretty forgettable homecoming for the injury-prone forward.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 35 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 28 points.

BRISBANE v HAWTHORN (Gabba, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The Hawks certainly are a bit of an enigma this season, and they could quite easily snatch an upset win this week. But they’re one of the harder teams to get a read on, and the Lions appear to be a level above them at this stage. Chris Fagan’s men would be seething after their heartbreaking loss to Freo last week, and will be desperate to make amends and return to the winners’ list. Brisbane has lost just one of five at home this year and if it wants to stay in touch with the top four, then games like these have to end in a win. The Lions have a good recent record against the Hawks and should be able to get the job done.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 8 points.

MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE (Darwin, Saturday 7.10pm local time)
Season 2019 just goes from bad to worse for the Dees. They put in yet another dismal performance against GWS, which has a terrible record at the MCG, and while the Demons were missing a whole host of players, the manner in which they played those first three quarters really was poor. Luckily for them, they regain Michael Hibberd, Mitch Hannan and Christian Salem this week, but the Crows welcome back a big-name trio of their own in the shape of Tom Lynch, Bryce Gibbs and Josh Jenkins. If the Lions were agonising over their loss last week, then the Crows would’ve been pulling their hair out after they squandered a 33-point lead against West Coast. Adelaide has to win this one to get its quest for finals footy back on track after a bit of a derailment in round 10, and should be too good for Melbourne.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 6 points.

ST KILDA v PORT ADELAIDE (Shanghai, Sunday 12.20pm local time)
This one looms as a good old-fashioned “eight-pointer” with both teams 5-5 and desperate to stay in touch with the top eight. And what better place to stage such a crucial game than … China? Yep, this year the Power are dragging the Saints along with them for the longest road trip in footy, in what is supposedly St Kilda’s home game. Go figure that one out. The Power obviously have the advantage of having already played at Jiangwan Stadium twice for two easy wins against Gold Coast. They also could be set to welcome back key players Ryan Burton, Scott Lycett and Hamish Hartlett all in one hit, although they do lose Tom Rockliff (hamstring). The Saints regain captain Jarryn Geary after that gruesome quad injury, but Port Adelaide probably has the edge in this one.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 16 points.

ESSENDON v CARLTON (MCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
Season 2019 is already in the books as another disaster for the Blues with just one win from their first 10, ensuring they are two games clear on the bottom of the ladder. It’s an all-too-familiar story for Carlton, which has now lost 38 of its last 42 games. But in all the doom and gloom of recent years, one thing that has kept the boys from Princes Park going is the knowledge they have the wood on their old rivals Essendon. They always get themselves up for the Bombers, with wins in 2017 and 2018 and another game that they almost won late in 2017. Last year, Carlton put the final nail in Essendon’s coffin from a finals perspective, and nothing would give the Blues more pleasure than to repeat the dose in 2019 and generate some form of joy for themselves. You could also argue that coaches Brendon Bolton and John Worsfold are fighting for their careers on Sunday. The problem for Essendon is that it’s the same old predictable team it has been in the last couple of years, which Bolton has been able to undo more often than not. This is a rare opportunity for the Blues. They can sense it.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 4 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 2 points.

WEST COAST v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
The Eagles have taken a while to get going this year, but last week like they finally clicked into gear, and it looks as though their premiership defence is officially back on. What a performance it was as they overturned a six-goal deficit to defeat the Crows in Adelaide. Amazingly, West Coast has won its last four, but has been so unconvincing in the process it hasn’t felt like a genuine winning streak for the most part. Nevertheless, the Eagles are right in the top four mix again, and it’s going to take some effort from the erratic Bulldogs to stop West Coast from making it five victories in a row.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 28 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 22 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 54
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 59