Gary Rohan is mobbed by Geelong teammates last year after kicking a goal after the siren to beat the Bulldogs in a thriller at Kardinia Park. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

WESTERN BULLDOGS v GEELONG (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The first of the bye weekends is upon us and it all kicks off with a tantalising top-eight showdown between the revitalised Western Bulldogs and the menacing Cats. After a slow start to the year, the Bulldogs find themselves in the top eight for the first time in 2022, having also won three games in a row for the first time this year. The last of those wins was by far their most emphatic – a 101-point smashing of West Coast which saw them equal the VFL/AFL record for most individual goalkickers in the one match (16). Meanwhile, Geelong managed to cease a frustrating win-loss run that stretched back to Round 4. The cavalry is gradually returning for the Dogs, and after regaining key trio Tim English, Cody Weightman and Taylor Duryea last week, they have the luxury of recalling superstar Bailey Smith this week. Geelong also gets bolstered by the returns of Rhys Stanley and Gary Rohan. Very little has separated these two sides in their past five meetings, with four of those clashes decided by 16 points or less. And who could forget last year’s thriller decided by a Rohan goal after the siren? But the Dogs are gradually gathering momentum, and at the faster deck of Marvel Stadium, where the Cats were overwhelmed by the rampaging Saints a few weeks ago, Luke Beveridge’s men would like their chances.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 6 points.

ADELAIDE v WEST COAST (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1.15pm local time)
If there was a mercy rule in the AFL, it would surely come into effect for the insipid Eagles. This is by far the lowest ebb in their proud 36-year history. West Coast has now lost its past seven games by an alarming average of 80 points and after suffering just one home loss by a triple-figure margin prior to this year, they have lost two of their last three games at Optus Stadium by over 100 points. It is truly a stunning fall from grace on an historic level. The Eagles’ percentage has plunged to 49.7, a very similar figure to that of Fitzroy’s in its final year (49.5). It’s hard to envisage them beating anyone at the moment, let alone the Crows in Adelaide. The Crows aren’t exactly setting the world on fire, having lost their last five games, but they showed more competitive spirit in their defeats to top-four contenders Brisbane and St Kilda recently than the Eagles have done all year. With Taylor Walker back in the goal square, Adelaide can expect a seamless return to the winners’ list.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 45 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 32 points.

GOLD COAST v NORTH MELBOURNE (TIO Stadium, Saturday 4.05pm local time)
And the Kangaroos aren’t much better than West Coast, having lost their last nine games by an average of 10 goals. But at least in North’s case, it’s actually had a crack in the last couple of weeks against premiership favourite Melbourne and the Saints, before being ultimately outclassed by far superior sides. However, it’s hard to see them avoiding a 10th defeat on the trot. The Suns have put together arguably their best month of footy since 2014. Brilliant wins against Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn, and a gallant loss to the Bulldogs, have put them on the precipice of the top eight. Could they finally be on the verge of a maiden finals appearance? If they win this week, they might only be outside the top eight on percentage with 10 games to go. Gold Coast pummelled the Hawks into submission last week, and if it brings that same attitude this week, at a ground that it is already comfortable at having just won there handsomely last round, then it will have few issues squaring its ledger at 6-6.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 52 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 40 points.

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MELBOURNE v SYDNEY (MCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
It was bound to happen eventually, but when it happens, it still catches the masses by surprise. Yes, the Demons’ 17-game winning streak finally came to an end last week at the hands of the rampant Dockers at the MCG in one of the biggest turn-ups of the season. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing for Melbourne – after all, it’s virtually impossible to go through a season undefeated. Not even the most dominant single-season sides of the modern era, such as the 2000 Bombers, 2008 Cats, 2009 Saints and 2011 Magpies, could achieve the feat. With their bubble burst, and Jake Bowey experiencing what it’s like to lose, the Demons can now focus on attacking the second half of the season without the spectre of ‘the streak’ hanging over them. And with James Harmes, Ed Langdon, Tom McDonald and Christian Salem all returning this week, they should promptly return to the winners’ circle. It’s a shame, though, that we’re being deprived of one of the most anticipated duels of the season with Steven May (concussion) and Lance Franklin (suspended) both unavailable.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 8 points.

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Sunday 2.10pm local time)
It’s hard to make heads or tails of the Hawks this season. On the one hand, they’re capable of beating top-four contenders Brisbane and Geelong, and on the other hand they get beaten by the bottom-three Bombers. Their inconsistency and unpredictability make them one of the toughest sides to get a read on, and they were downright uncompetitive against the Suns last week. They just didn’t adapt to the humid, greasy conditions at all, and were made to pay a heavy price. But they’re back on much more familiar surrounds this week against another side guided by a first-year coach. The Pies have also been a bit erratic this year, but they have produced the goods more often than the Hawks, and back-to-back wins over another pair of top-four aspirants in Fremantle and Carlton have them knocking on the door of the top eight. But Hawthorn is a team that cannot be underestimated, despite its 4-7 record. The Hawks’ backline has taken a hit with Jack Scrimshaw (concussion) and Sam Frost (suspension) forced out, but with Jaeger O’Meara, Jack Gunston and Ned Reeves back in the extended squad, it’s definitely not beyond them to dust themselves off after last week’s shocker and bring the Pies back down to Earth.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 16 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE (Optus Stadium, Sunday, 3.20pm local time)
After a couple of stinkers in extremely wet conditions, the Dockers reminded everyone that their 7-1 start to the year was no fluke, and did so in the most spectacular fashion by taking down the seemingly unbeatable Demons on their own dunghill. What a performance it was from Justin Longmuir’s men who kicked 13 of the last 14 goals, including the last 10, to obliterate Melbourne and make it look second rate. But there’s no rest for the wicked and the Dockers’ next assignment is another premiership contender in the form of the Lions. Though it must be said that Brisbane’s form in the past couple of weeks has been scratchy, with an upset loss to Hawthorn followed by an unconvincing win over GWS. The Lions conceded an average of 107 points across both games, which is very un-Brisbane-like, and gave up six of the first seven goals to the Giants before eventually reining them in. The Dockers have some personnel issues with Matt Taberner (back), Michael Walters (hamstring) and Heath Chapman (hamstring) all ruled out, while Brisbane welcomes back gun on-baller Hugh McCluggage. But the hosts should still be good enough to get the job done following that sensational performance last week.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 2 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 69
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 69