Magpies Beau McCreery (left) and Billy Frampton close in on Demon Trent Rivers last year. Photo: AFL MEDIA

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN (Marvel Stadium, Thursday 7:30pm)
Two months ago, the Hawks were the toast of the footy world. After finishing the 2024 campaign as one of the hottest teams in the league, they picked up where they left off to start this year 4-0 and become early premiership favourites. But it’s all come unstuck for them since then with just three wins from their past eight games. Four of their five losses have come against flag contenders and a flaky GWS (seventh) remains their highest-ranked scalp. The best teams have worked out Hawthorn it seems. By being denied the corridor and having the game slowed down, the Hawks are less potent, especially with their field kicking nowhere near as good as it was last year. They got taught a lesson last week by pacesetter Collingwood, and the Bulldogs, who are also a premiership dark horse, could very easily do a similar number on Hawthorn this week. The Dogs are one of the most skilful, star-studded and well-drilled sides in the AFL, and with Adam Treloar back, those attributes will only be further enhanced. Compounding things for Hawthorn is the loss of key trio James Sicily (hip/abdominal), Nathan Watson (illness) and Jack Scrimshaw (managed).
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 25 points.

ADELAIDE v BRISBANE (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7:10pm)
The Crows were mighty impressive last week in the manner in which they ruthlessly tore Sydney apart. The 90-point victory moved them into third spot as they creep closer to ending their eight-year finals drought. But, like the Hawks, the biggest knock on Adelaide is its inability to take down a heavyweight of the league. Three of its four losses have been against Gold Coast, Geelong and Collingwood and, again like Hawthorn, its biggest scalp so far is the Giants. Matthew Nicks’ men will have another opportunity this week to announce themselves as a legitimate flag fancy if they can overcome reigning premier Brisbane. And the Lions’ form has been a little bit unpredictable lately. Their past month has featured a draw against lowly North Melbourne, a shocking home loss to struggling Melbourne, a sensational road win over Hawthorn and a narrow victory against middle-of-the-road Essendon. However, they do generally rise for the big occasions as evidenced by their wins over the Hawks, Suns, Dogs and Cats. Gun ruckman Oscar McInerney (soreness) looms as a big inclusion for Brisbane, while Rory Laird (managed) should be available for the Crows. This promises to be a ripsnorter, and it feels like it will be one of those times when the Lions remind another would-be contender who the boss is.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 11 points.

RICHMOND v SYDNEY (MCG, Saturday 1:20pm)
The Swans are currently at one of their lowest ebbs in the past 20 years. If getting destroyed by Melbourne a fortnight ago wasn’t bad enough, they got completely blown apart by the Crows in what was their equal-fifth worst loss at the SCG and biggest at the venue in 27 years. They look like a team that is completely devoid of morale and direction, which is a recipe for disaster against a plucky side like Richmond which more often than not defies its development status to have a red-hot crack, as was evident in its gutsy performance against GWS at Giants Stadium last week. This is an eminently winnable game for the Tigers, who have already far exceeded expectations this year with three wins so far. Star defender Noah Balta (curfew) will be free to play again for Richmond, while the Swans will get back Callum Mills (suspension) and Harry Cunningham and Sam Wicks (hamstring) could also return. However, based purely on spirit, hunger and determination, the Tigers have got the Swans covered comfortably, and it will be enough to ensure they are going to be hard to beat.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 5 points.

GEELONG v GOLD COAST (Kardinia Park, Saturday 4:15pm)
A very close second behind Crows-Lions for match of the round, this clash between a pair of top-four hopefuls should be a cracking contest as well. Given the game is being staged at Geelong’s home ground, it obviously tilts the odds in the Cats’ favour, but the Suns are coming off an incredibly disappointing loss to Fremantle at Carrara, and with Damien Hardwick in charge, will be surely champing at the bit to atone. However, their job will be made that much harder with Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) a big chance of returning. A midfield match-up for the ages will be one of the highlights of this match, but the Suns will be up against it to register their first ever win at Kardinia Park where their average losing margin is 72 points.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 30 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 15 points.

GWS v PORT ADELAIDE (Manuka Oval, Saturday 7:35pm)
If Sydney’s spirit is at rock bottom, then Port Adelaide’s is not far behind. Damningly, the Power have appeared to have given up on multiple occasions this year, especially in games against the Magpies, Bulldogs, Cats and Dockers, which saw them outscored by a total of 229 points in the second half alone, before going on to lose those matches by an average of 77 points. ‘Uncompetitive’ is an adjective rarely associated with Port Adelaide in the Ken Hinkley reign, but his men look like they’ve checked out, and there’s no doubt the coaching handover is having a massively detrimental impact. The Giants might be suffering from some very scratchy form, but one thing you could never accuse them of is that they don’t play for their coach Adam Kingsley. Team cohesion is just about the most important ingredient in footy, and if you’re lacking it, you’re just asking for trouble on a weekly basis.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 28 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 13 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v WEST COAST (Bunbury, Sunday 1:20pm)
The VFL/AFL will venture to its 52nd venue on Sunday as part of the Kangaroos’ new three-year deal to sell two home games to Western Australia per season. The Hands Oval in Bunbury will experience top-level footy for the first time, and it should be a decent contest between two similarly-matched teams. Yet again, North and the Eagles find themselves at the foot of the ladder with just three wins combined from 23 matches. But both sides have experienced success relatively recently with the Kangaroos beating Richmond and West Coast taking down St Kilda. Much will depend on availability, and if Liam Ryan (leg) joins Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and Jake Waterman (shoulder) on the sidelines, West Coast will struggle to get the win. Although, the Eagles were impressive against contender Geelong for much of their contest last week. The Kangaroos should be good enough to get the job done, but it’s very hard to trust them, and giving up home-ground advantage adds another layer of intrigue.
RONNY’S TIP: North Melbourne by 3 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: West Coast by 9 points.

CARLTON v ESSENDON (MCG, Sunday 7:20pm)
It’s fair to say that, three games outside the top eight, the Blues’ season is spiralling out of control. They’ve been here before. Two years ago they were in a very similar position at this stage of the year, before taking on all comers and storming their way to a preliminary final. But it’s hard to see how they can replicate that in 2025. Of more immediate concern is a date with mortal enemy Essendon, and wouldn’t the Bombers love to drive a nail in its old foe’s coffin? The Bombers produced their best performance of the year in a loss to Brisbane last week with so many key players missing. It was a very heartening display indeed while they continue to blood impressive youngsters. Carlton is a good contested and defensive team, but sorely lacks leg speed, and the youthful Dons will aim to exploit that. The Blues are hoping to regain Jack Silvagni (groin), Zac Williams (calf) and Jordan Boyd (concussion) while the Bombers could call on Darcy Parish for the first time this year. Carlton simply has to win this game otherwise its season will be as good as done.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 14 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 10 points.

MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Monday 3:20pm)
After generating so much promising momentum in the previous six games, the Demons shot themselves in the foot with another woeful performance in Alice Springs against St Kilda which threatens to derail their season. And they couldn’t have asked for a worse opponent to come up against in order to achieve a rebound victory. Collingwood is humming along better than any side at the moment. It is on top of the ladder for a reason and that is because it is the slickest, sharpest, best-coached and most talented outfit in the competition. The way in which the Magpies brushed aside Hawthorn last week was breathtaking, and they should have few issues in negotiating the Melbourne threat on King’s Birthday.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 21 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 80
RONNY 71
ROCKET 67