Steele Sidebottom gets a handball away for the Pies last time they met the Dogs in Round 4. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

WEST COAST v ESSENDON (Optus Stadium, Thursday 6.10pm local time)
The Bombers certainly haven’t been setting the world on fire in season 2019, but they have managed to string some decent form together in the past month, winning three of their past four games. But if they are going to realise their pre-season goal of making the finals, they have to take a big scalp, and the reigning premiers certainly qualify. Unfortunately for Essendon, it is 0-3 against top-four teams this year, and while the Bombers did comprehensively beat the Eagles on their home turf last year, you would have to say they are up against it to repeat the dose this season. The loss of playmaker Jake Stringer is a huge blow for Essendon, while West Coast welcomes back big guns Shannon Hurn, Elliot Yeo, Chris Masten and Oscar Allen. Granted, the Eagles haven’t exactly been in top gear, either, in 2019, but they should prove to be a class above the Bombers.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 12 points.

SYDNEY v HAWTHORN (SCG, Friday 7.50pm local time)
These two teams resemble a pair of elevators placed side by side. The Swans look like they’re on the way up while the Hawks appear to be on the way down. After losing six of its first seven games and sinking to the bottom of the ladder in round seven, Sydney has certainly regained its mojo with a very youthful team helping it win three of the last five games – including the Swans’ best performance of the year last time out by way of a 45-point win over West Coast. The Hawks, meanwhile, are struggling, with two wins from their last six outings and their finals hopes are now in serious jeopardy. Hawthorn has won four of its last five against Sydney, and these two sides regularly produce cracking matches with all five of those contests decided by an average of 6.8 points. However, the Swans could recall Josh Kennedy, Zak Jones, Will Hayward and Kieren Jack all in one hit, and if they regain most of that quartet, they should continue their resurgence against their fierce modern-day rivals.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 6 points.

MELBOURNE v FREMANTLE (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
With each passing week, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the Dockers are top-eight material. Their most recent win against the Power was a finals-like arm wrestle, with very little separating the two sides before Freo busted the game open in the final term, keeping Ken Hinkley’s men scoreless. Once again, that man Michael Walters was in the thick of the action, and if he isn’t the best player in the competition right now, there wouldn’t be too many ahead of him. Freo’s last three victories have all been against finals contenders, and that super effort against Collingwood at the MCG a couple of weeks ago will give it huge confidence in its capabilities of getting the job done again at that ground this weekend. Sean Darcy and Griffin Logue seamlessly stepped in for injured key pair Rory Lobb and Alex Pearce, too, which would have pleased coach Ross Lyon no end. The Dees would probably rather this season end already. It has been a shocker, and news that Jake Lever (foot) is once again in doubt just adds salt to the wound. Fremantle should be too strong in what will no doubt be an emotional first game against the Demons for former Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 18 points

ST KILDA v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
The Saints stayed in the finals race by the skin of their teeth last week with a third consecutive victory against Gold Coast by less than a kick, and it could serve as just the tonic heading into the second half of the season after their disastrous trip to China threatened to derail them. And they’re not without a chance this week, either, against a side that is clearly less comfortable away from its usual surrounds at the Gabba. Brisbane is 2-4 on the road this year, with three of those losses coming against bottom 10 sides, including last-placed Carlton two rounds ago. St Kilda could finally unveil big-name recruit Dan Hannebery after an injury-plagued start to his life at Moorabbin which would serve as a further boost. But this game is reminiscent of when GWS quickly returned to the MCG to right the wrongs of their horrible performance there against Hawthorn by smacking Melbourne at the same venue. The Lions will be very keen to atone for their dismal showing at Marvel Stadium a fortnight ago against the Blues and prove they are finals material.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 22 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v GEELONG (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.10pm local time)
The Cats’ 16-year period of high-level output is showing no signs of slowing down in 2019 as they find themselves at the top of the heap once again. It truly is an incredible example of longevity, and with just one loss by four points to GWS and a percentage in excess of 150, Geelong is well and truly the team to beat this season. Sitting two games clear on top of the ladder, the Cats head into this encounter with Port Adelaide bursting with confidence and self-belief. It’s hard to see how the Power can go about stopping this juggernaut in its tracks, even if it is at Adelaide Oval, where the Cats comfortably beat the Crows this year and the Power last year. In fact Geelong’s overall record at the ground is 5-4, including a dominant 3-1 advantage against Port Adelaide. The Cats are the most efficient and dangerous team in the competition right now, and with very few weak links in their best 22, they should notch their 12th win of the year.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 20 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
To borrow a line from Magpies president Eddie McGuire: “What a big week it’s been for the Collingwood Football Club!” How will the team respond to Jaidyn Stephenson’s 10-match suspension for betting on Collingwood games? It’s one of the biggest scandals to rock the game in recent years, and it’s certainly a headache that coach Nathan Buckley did not need in his side’s quest to go one better than last year. If history is a guide, and unfortunately for Collingwood, it was also the last team to be hit hard by a betting scandal of this magnitude, the Magpies won seven in a row after Heath Shaw was rubbed out for eight weeks in 2011 for a similar indiscretion. That’s a pretty good omen considering Collingwood made the grand final that year, too. So it won’t necessarily be too big a distraction. And while Stephenson is a big loss, Collingwood has enough quality to cover for him, especially against the inconsistent Bulldogs, who lose Tom Liberatore (knee). However, indestructible veteran Dale Morris is inching towards a remarkable comeback from yet another ACL injury at the ripe old age of 36.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 30 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 66
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 73