Brisbane players are ecstatic and Richmond players are crestfallen during the Lions’ dramatic two-point elimination final win last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

BRISBANE v RICHMOND (Gabba, Thursday 7:20pm local time)
The bye rounds are in the rearview mirror and normal transmission resumes this weekend with a full allotment of nine matches. Round 16 kicks off with a highly-anticipated rematch of last year’s epic elimination final between the Lions and Tigers. And the main reason why interest in this match has risen is because of Richmond which has been rejuvenated since legendary coach Damien Hardwick abruptly resigned. Under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter, the Tigers have won three of their last four games to turn their season around, and their only loss in that period was a gallant 10-point defeat to high flying Port Adelaide. They are now just half a game outside the top eight, but they face a huge task to stay within touching distance this week. Not only do they take on Brisbane at the Gabba, which is one of the toughest assignments in footy given the Lions have won 35 of their last 43 games there, but they are also coming off the dreaded bye. So far this year, teams coming off the bye are 0-8 against a team that has played the previous week. Not only that, Brisbane returned to form last week with a comprehensive road win against St Kilda and is already six from six at its Gabba fortress this year. The Tigers do get a nice boost with the returns of Jacob Hopper and Marlion Pickett, who is playing his first game since being charged with serious offences in WA, but as impressive as they’ve been in recent weeks, this is their biggest test in the McQualter era.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 11 points.

SYDNEY v GEELONG (SCG, Friday 7:50pm local time)
How far do you read into the Swans’ merciless obliteration of West Coast last week? On the one hand, to beat any team at AFL level by 171 points is impressive as it means the Swans did not take the foot off the gas pedal for two hours. On the other hand, the Eagles have now lost four of their last eight games by over 100 points and are literally travelling worse than Fitzroy in its last year in 1996. But prior to the SCG slaughter, the 13th-placed Swans had been building some reasonable form in the previous month with two wins and another couple of losses to finals contenders St Kilda and Brisbane by an average of 15 points. And they take on another side this week with the top eight in its sights. Writing off Geelong has proven to be the riskiest undertaking in the past decade, and the Cats showed again why that is the case last week when they stormed over the top of premiership contender Melbourne to revitalise their season. They sit just 0.9 per cent outside the top eight now and while they lose superstar Jeremy Cameron (concussion), they should regain inspirational captain Patrick Dangerfield (lung/ribs) who has absolutely dined out in his last two games against the Swans which the Cats have won by an average of 87 points – including the 2022 grand final. Lance Franklin (knee) and Will Hayward (illness) are in contention to return for Sydney, but the Swans haven’t taken a big scalp all year, and it’s hard to see them doing so this week.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 9 points.

ADELAIDE v NORTH MELBOURNE (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1:15pm local time)
The Kangaroos’ effort has definitely increased since caretaker coach Brett Ratten took over, with their average losing margin coming down from 50 points to 19 in that period, but crucially they still haven’t been able to break through for a win with their losing streak having now stretched out to 12 games. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, like Richmond, the Kangaroos are coming off a bye and are heading interstate against a finals aspirant fresh from an extremely impressive performance on the road last week. The Crows did everything but beat Collingwood at the MCG, yet unfortunately for them, had to cop their second thrilling coming-from-behind loss against the Magpies for the season. You can bet your bottom dollar that Matthew Nicks’ men will take out their considerable frustration and pain on the lowly Kangas.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 38 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 45 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm local time)
Ordinarily you’d think that the Bulldogs would be favourites heading into this game, but they are also coming off a bye, so a spanner has definitely been thrown in the works here. And when you add the element of the completely unpredictable Dockers to the mix, then this match has the potential to be a wild one. Truth be told, the Dogs weren’t in sparkling form prior to the bye, losing three games in a row before overcoming the plucky Kangaroos. And they take on a team who, in their past four games, defeated Melbourne at the MCG, lost to Richmond at home, got smashed by mid-table GWS by 70 points, then beat the Bombers comfortably. Your guess is as good as mine as to which Fremantle side is going to show up this weekend. The blows keep coming for the Bulldogs’ backline with Liam Jones (arm) and Tim O’Brien (hamstring) joining Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Ed Richards (hamstring) on the sidelines. Conversely, the Dockers have almost a full list to choose from with James Aish (back/concussion) a big chance to return this week. There is a compelling case to back Fremantle this week, but at this point in time, Justin Longmuir’s team is just not trustworthy enough.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 14 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 7 points.

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GOLD COAST v COLLINGWOOD (Carrara, Saturday 4:35pm local time)
It’s hard to remember many bigger games that the Carrara stadium on the Gold Coast has staged than the one about to take place this weekend. To the Suns’ credit, they probably proved that their diabolical performance against Carlton in Round 14 was a blip, as they produced a resounding response in the form of an 11-goal walloping of Hawthorn. Gold Coast has now won six of its last nine games to move to 7-7, just percentage outside of the top eight. The Suns have been in this situation before where they are looking on track for finals mid-season, yet still need to illustrate they are a legitimate threat. Well, they couldn’t ask for a bigger challenge to their credibility than the ladder-leading premiership favourite Magpies. The Suns’ two biggest drawing crowds at their home ground have been against Collingwood, and there is every chance the black-and-white army ensures its beloved team will take all three spots on the podium this weekend. Gold Coast might’ve got Collingwood at a good time too, because as good as they have been this year, Craig McRae’s men have been a little wobbly in recent times with a loss to Melbourne and a last-gasp victory against Adelaide at the MCG. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Collingwood seriously tested again this week, but the Suns are going to have to produce one of their very best performances to cause an upset.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 7 points.

ESSENDON v PORT ADELAIDE (MCG, Saturday 7:25pm local time)
After starting the year with impressive consistency over their first 13 games, the Bombers produced their first real “stinker” of the year last week against Fremantle in a performance that could only be described as soft. Although perhaps they get some leeway given the fact they were coming off the bye while Freo had played the previous week. Well, if the Dons needed a nugget of info to boost their confidence against the hottest team in the league, Port Adelaide is facing that exact same scenario this weekend after having the bye in Round 15. Could it be enough for Essendon to bring the Power’s sensational 11-game winning streak to an end? It’s a tall order, but stranger things have happened and the Bombers have already taken the scalp of a heavyweight this year in Melbourne. But unfortunately for Brad Scott’s side, influential ruckman Sam Draper (hip) remains sidelined, and his absence was keenly felt last week, especially when youngster Nick Bryan assumed ruck duties, while key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (adductor) is in some doubt too. Meanwhile, the Power look set to be boosted by the return of star youngster Xavier Duursma (knee). Expect an improved showing from the Bombers back at home, but topping Port Adelaide in their first meeting at the MCG since 1998 will probably be beyond them. Stopping the Power’s incredible ability to pile on multiple goals when they have the momentum will be a huge task for the Dons.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 18 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 27 points.

HAWTHORN v CARLTON (MCG, Sunday 1:10pm local time)
The Hawks probably rival Freo as the most erratic side over the past month with stirring victories over top-eight sides St Kilda and Brisbane interspersed by train wreck performances against Port Adelaide and Gold Coast. The one common factor in those results? James Sicily. The star Hawthorn captain has played in the wins, and been absent during the losses. Of course footy is a team game, but outside of Greater Western Sydney’s reliance on Toby Greene, there may not be another team whose fortunes ride so heavily on one player than Hawthorn. And that spells good news for Carlton which halted its tailspin in its last match by smashing Gold Coast. The Blues might be heading into this game off a bye, but they would surely back themselves to take care of a fellow bottom-four side. The Hawks could regain Changkuoth Jiath (calf), however, if Carlton replicates the same intent and effort that it did against the Suns, it will register consecutive wins for the first time since Round 4.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 23 points.

MELBOURNE v GWS (Alice Springs, Sunday 2:50pm local time)
Just when the Demons looked like they had got their season back on track with a sensational win over Collingwood, they undid their good work with a final-quarter horror show against Geelong which resulted in a 15-point loss. And while they should still be too strong for the Giants, they would be concerned by their attacking potency, averaging just eight goals in their past three games. It’s something they need to desperately address as we head into the business end of the season. GWS looked reinvigorated in its 70-point demolition of Freo in Round 14, but Melbourne is a different beast and Adam Kingsley’s men will have to also overcome the “bye curse” to be victorious this week. Melbourne will once again be without Clayton Oliver (hamstring) and Michael Hibberd (kidney), while GWS loses Lachie Whitfield (suspension) but could regain Jesse Hogan (calf). Melbourne’s recent record in the Alice is fantastic, with four wins from its last five games there, and that trend should continue.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 17 points.

WEST COAST v ST KILDA (Optus Stadium, Sunday 2:40pm local time)
It’s almost a waste of time devoting any analysis to this match. The league has not seen a team as bad as West Coast in many, many decades. It is completely uncompetitive, having now lost its last five games by an average of 104 points. The Eagles lack desire, hunger, effort and care and when you don’t have any of that going for you, you are exactly zero chance of winning football games. They’ve been badly let down by their senior players, too, who have given up. St Kilda in a canter.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 66 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 49 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 84
ROCO 81
ROCKET 80