Scott Pendlebury and James Worpel do battle in the Hawthorn-Collingwood clash last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

BRISBANE v ESSENDON (Gabba, Thursday 7:30pm)
The Bombers have done a good job of grinding out victories more often than not this season, but with their injury toll reaching crisis levels this week, they could be about to receive an almighty spanking from the rejuvenated Lions. With Kyle Langford (quad), Ben McKay (foot) and Zach Reid (hamstring) now on the sidelines along with Jordan Ridley (hamstring), Sam Draper (Achilles), Nick Bryan (knee), Harrison Jones (ankle), Nik Cox (concussion), Tom Edwards (knee) and Lewis Hayes (knee), Essendon’s backline is now decimated, as well as its ruck stocks. The Bombers couldn’t have picked a worse week for their personnel unavailability to reach critical mass. The Lions at the Gabba is one of the hardest assignments in footy, their recent hiccup against Melbourne aside, and they look like they’ve overcome that road bump, which also featured a draw with North Melbourne. Brisbane’s performance against Hawthorn at the MCG last week was quite simply sensational. It was a massive statement. To dispose of a would-be top-four contender on its home deck in that fashion put the whole competition on notice that the reigning premiers were back in town, and the Bombers look as though they’re going to find that out the hard way first hand this week.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 72 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 37 points.

COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN (MCG, Friday 7:40pm)
The match of the round rightfully takes centre stage under the prime time lights of Friday night footy. Collingwood might have only been playing perennial struggler North Melbourne last week, but the flag favourite still did a great job to win convincingly with so many key players missing. The good news for the ladder-leading Magpies is that they now have the option of welcoming back Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Darcy Moore, Bobby Hill and Lachie Schultz all at once. What a position to be in. Meanwhile, a lot of the sheen from the ‘Hollywood Hawks’ seems to have disappeared in recent times. Far from the side that took the footy world by storm last year, and burst out of the blocks this year to be early premiership favourites, things haven’t been going all that smoothly for Hawthorn which has now lost four of its last seven matches. And perhaps most concerning of all is that the highest-ranked team they’ve beaten so far this year has been GWS (eighth). The Hawks’ foot skills are not up to their razor-sharp levels from 2024, and captain James Sicily appears to be severely hampered by an unspecified injury. Jarman Impey (personal) and Luke Breust (back) should be available, but while the Hawks are desperate to take their first big scalp to legitimise themselves, it’s hard to see them breaking down the well-drilled Collingwood structure.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 21 points.

GOLD COAST v FREMANTLE (Carrara, Saturday 1:20pm)
The Dockers are starting to gain some momentum after a very concerning rollercoaster start to the season. Back-to-back wins against GWS (away) and struggling Port Adelaide have got their top-eight bid back on track. But they’re going to be hard-pressed to make it three consecutive victories against the Suns up in Queensland. Gold Coast created history last week by making its best ever start to a season (8-2) and under coach Damien Hardwick, it has certainly developed a harder and tougher edge. Exciting backman Mac Andrew (ankle) is in doubt, but it would take a lot more than his possible absence to get in the way of another Suns win as they continue to push towards the top of the ladder. It’s been 10 years since the Dockers beat Gold Coast at Carrara, and that streak looks set to continue. Another one of the Suns’ academy picks in Leo Lombard will make his debut.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 7 points.

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GWS v RICHMOND (Giants Stadium, Saturday 4:15pm)
The Tigers continue to gallantly punch above their weight, but they look as though they’re starting to tire out, which is understandable considering how inexperienced their team has been for most of the season so far. Thankfully for them, captain Toby Nankervis (knee) will return this week, and Tom Lynch (concussion) should too, while Dion Prestia (Achilles) and Tylar Young (knee) both made successful returns through the VFL last week. Meanwhile, Sam Lalor (hamstring) and Thomson Dow (knee) will both make way. But whatever the make-up of Richmond’s side this week, it’s unlikely to impact the final result. The Giants were back to their hard-running, skilful best last week during their impressive road win against Carlton. And just like Brisbane, they look like they’ve flicked the switch after an uncharacteristic recent stretch of form. With Josh Kelly (hip) a strong chance of returning, and captain Toby Greene in sensational form, GWS will be far too strong.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 29 points.

SYDNEY v ADELAIDE (SCG, Saturday 7:35pm)
The Swans’ underwhelming season hit its lowest point last week courtesy of a crushing 53-point loss inflicted by Melbourne. Gallingly, the final margin actually flattered Sydney whose skills were horrible and pressure basically non-existent. Injuries certainly haven’t helped the Swans this year, but their effort has fluctuated way too much and it’s something they’re going to have to remedy, starting with their tough assignment against the Crows this week. But captain Callum Mills is once again unavailable, this time due to suspension, while Sam Wicks (hamstring) joins Errol Gulden (ankle), Tom Papley (foot), Joel Amartey (suspension) and Logan McDonald (ankle) in the stands as well. However, in some rare good news on the personnel front, Harry Cunningham (foot), Robbie Fox (calf) and Aaron Francis (concussion) might all play, while Justin McInerney and Lewis Melican are both back from suspension. But even with a sizeable injection of talent to the line-up, Sydney is still going to find it tough to take down an Adelaide side that has been pretty consistent all year, and even in its losses it has been far from disgraced. The Crows are basically full strength heading into this match and they look primed to snap their six-game losing streak against the Swans.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 31 points.

MELBOURNE v ST KILDA (Alice Springs, Sunday 2:50pm)
Are the Demons back? That is the $64,000 question. It certainly looks as though that is the case over the last six rounds, specifically the past fortnight which seen them not only take down the reigning premier at the Gabba, but also last year’s runner-up in a nine-goal spanking last week. They started the year 0-5, but are now 5-6, and the mojo appears to be back, especially with all of their big guns firing such as Kysaiah Pickett, Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. If this game was played at the MCG, you’d pencil in a Melbourne win without even thinking about it based on current form, but by staging it in the red centre, and depriving themselves of true home-ground advantage, the door opens for the Saints who are due for a win after three straight defeats. It’s been a really horrible period for St Kilda, which has lost six of its last seven games after starting the year 3-1. The Saints have almost been a mirror image of the Demons in that respect. Melbourne has to make one change with Charlie Spargo (scapula) out injured, and Jack Viney (concussion) could be his replacement. St Kilda isn’t without a chance in this one, but Melbourne’s momentum is exponentially building and will probably prove too strong for the Saints to overcome.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 25 points.

WEST COAST v GEELONG (Optus Stadium, Sunday 5:20pm)
The Eagles crashed back down to earth last week thanks to an 11-goal drubbing dished out by the Crows. And to cap off a horror day in Adelaide, star forward Jake Waterman suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The news doesn’t get any better for struggling West Coast because it now has to prepare for one of the best teams in the competition in Geelong, fresh from defeating fellow top-four threat the Western Bulldogs in one of the games of the season. Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) might be absent, but when you have the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Max Holmes and Bailey Smith all playing out of their skin, it doesn’t augur well for the Eagles.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 60 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 33 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 75
RONNY 66
ROCKET 62

*all times are local