Geelong star Tom Hawkins is gang-tackled by Melbourne duo Angus Brayshaw (left) and Jake Lever in Round 17 last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

GEELONG v MELBOURNE (Kardinia Park, Thursday 7.20pm local time)
It’s been eight years and 61 matches since the Cats have lost back-to-back games at their near-impenetrable home fortress, but if ever the reigning premiers were to suffer that rarest of fates, this week would be the time. During that period, Geelong’s record at Kardinia Park has been an incredible 52-9, but it currently looks as vulnerable as it ever has during the 13-year Chris Scott reign, having now lost four of its last five games. In each of those four losses the Cats have been on the receiving end of barrages of goals from the opposition which they have struggled to contain. And now with inspirational captain Patrick Dangerfield (lung/ribs) set for more time on the sidelines, they look exposed again in the middle of the ground. Although, Rhys Stanley is a handy inclusion to deal with Melbourne’s ruck tandem of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy. The Demons looked like they were back to their premiership-winning best last week in inflicting the red-hot Magpies just their second loss of the year. Melbourne’s pressure was immense from go to woe, and only poor goalkicking denied them a larger winning margin. The Dees are holding back superstar Clayton Oliver (hamstring) for one more week, but given the form that Jack Viney and Christian Petracca currently find themselves in, his absence is being covered. Harrison Petty is also a big inclusion for Melbourne, and he will link up with the in-form Steven May and Jake Lever as they attempt to quell superstar Geelong duo Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron. It might seem like a tall order on paper, but Melbourne is in a strong position to hand the Cats consecutive losses at their home ground for just the second time in 17 seasons.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 14 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 17 points.

ST KILDA v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The St Kilda rollercoaster continues to roll on unabated. In their past 10 matches now, they have gone win-loss to be one of the most consistently inconsistent teams in the competition. You have to go all the way back to Round 4 for the last time they strung consecutive wins together. And while they have exceeded expectations this year to be in the top five heading into Round 15, they are yet to claim a scalp from the top end of rival teams. And this week they face one such side in the Lions. Brisbane mightn’t be in the hottest form at present, and its struggles at the MCG are well-documented, but it has no such issues playing at Marvel Stadium. Chris Fagan’s men have won six of their last seven games at the Docklands venue, including two victories over the Saints. Bolstered by the return of Hugh McCluggage (concussion), as well as the potential inclusions of Dayne Zorko (calf) and Darcy Gardiner (quad), the Lions will be hard to stop.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.

SYDNEY v WEST COAST (SCG, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
This season cannot end quickly enough for the Eagles who are on track to produce a worse year than Fitzroy in its final season back in 1996. After 13 games, West Coast is 1-12 with a percentage of 51.4. At the same stage 27 years ago, Fitzroy was 1-12 with a percentage of 52.6. It’s not hyperbolic to say the Eagles’ campaign has been atrocious on an historic scale, with three of their last seven losses being by over 100 points. After a horrible start to the year, the Swans’ past month hasn’t been too bad and they could welcome back Lance Franklin (knee), Isaac Heeney (concussion), Callum Mills (calf), Tom McCartin (concussion) and Logan McDonald (ankle) this week. West Coast’s injuries continue to pile up with Josh Rotham (thumb), Luke Foley (hamstring) and Greg Clark (foot) the latest casualties, but at least Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass, Liam Duggan and Elijah Hewett look set to return. Ultimately, it won’t prevent West Coast from extending its club record losing streak to 12 matches.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 59 points.

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FREMANTLE v ESSENDON (Optus Stadium, Saturday 5.25pm local time)
Just when you thought the Dockers had got their season back on track with an impressive four consecutive wins, including the scalps of Melbourne and Geelong, they go and undo all of their good work with a pair of inexcusable losses to Richmond and GWS. The defeat to the Giants was particularly galling. To be smashed by 70 points by a team that had only won one of six games at home previously, and is in the same part of the ladder vying for a top-eight spot, is quite frankly pathetic. Fremantle turned up its toes when it had everything to play for, there’s no other way to paint it, and it comes up against one of the most improved teams in the league this week in Essendon. The Bombers have been excellent so far this year under new coach Brad Scott, and for the first time in a very long time, they can be described as reliable. Every weekend you know exactly what the disciplined Dons are going to produce, a fact which should alarm the flaky Dockers. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s ability to swing the axe will be made easier by the fact that Sean Darcy (hamstring), James Aish (concussion), Will Brodie (ankle) and Michael Frederick (ankle) could all be available. Meanwhile, the Bombers look set to welcome back star midfielder Darcy Parish (calf) but doubts remain over Sam Draper’s availability as he continues to deal with hip pain, making Darcy’s possible return even more important for Freo. However, the Dockers are hardly invincible at home this year (3-3) and the Bombers actually have a decent record at the stadium against WA teams (4-4). The Dons appear to be more of a solid proposition at the moment and are good enough to secure a fifth consecutive win for the first time since 2019.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Essendon by 11 points.

COLLINGWOOD v ADELAIDE (MCG, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
The Crows have been very impressive so far this year, but until they can bridge the yawning gap between their home form and their away form, they can’t be considered a legitimate threat on the road, let alone when talking about the finals race. Matthew Nicks’ men are 1-4 away from Adelaide Oval, as opposed to their brilliant 6-2 record on their home deck. And this week they are faced with one of the toughest challenges in football – the premiership favourite Magpies on the rebound at the MCG. Collingwood finds itself in the rare position of preparing for a game on the back of a loss and unfortunately for the Crows, it’s been 24 matches since the Pies have suffered back-to-back defeats at the home of football. In that period, their record at the MCG has been a sensational 20-4, with 17 of their last 19 matches there ending in victory. They are also set to be boosted by the returns of star duo Jeremy Howe (arm) and Jamie Elliott (shoulder).
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 15 points.

GOLD COAST v HAWTHORN (Carrara, Sunday 4.40pm local time)
Like the Dockers, Gold Coast undid a lot of its good work last weekend by producing an abysmal performance against Carlton. The Blues had lost eight of their previous nine games, and couldn’t kick a winning score to save themselves, but that didn’t stop them from embarrassing the Suns by 10 goals. Adding to the frustration for Stuart Dew’s men is the fact that they looked like they turned a corner heading into the game having won five of their previous seven matches, including the scalps of the Bulldogs and Adelaide. They certainly missed a golden opportunity to strengthen their claim for a top-eight spot, and they appear to be following a familiar script which has seen them capitulate numerous times in recent years when it appeared as though they had finally arrived as a footy club. However, this writer is prepared to show a bit of faith in the Suns and give them a mulligan. Granted, the Hawks have put together their best month of the year, including a pair of stunning wins over Brisbane and St Kilda, but it remains to be seen whether their exciting young group can maintain that kind of form – after all they suffered a horrifying loss to Port Adelaide only a couple of weeks ago. Lachie Weller (knee) should be back for the Suns, replacing Joel Jeffrey (foot), and key defender Connor Budarick (knee) is inching towards his first game for 2023 as well. Meanwhile, Sam Frost (foot) is on the verge of a return for the Hawks and could be joined in the line-up by Changkuoth Jiath (calf).
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 29 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 80
ROCKET 76
ROCO 75