Essendon midfielder Jye Caldwell shovels out a handball during the Bombers’ epic draw with Collingwood on Anzac Day this year. Photo: AFL MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON (MCG, Friday 7:40pm)
Both teams head into this blockbuster opening to the round in patchy form, having each won only two of their last five games. But the Bombers’ lead-up to this match is more concerning given they’ve lost three of their last four outings. They’re also currently 0-4-1 against top-eight teams after failing another big test last week against Geelong, who appeared down and out, yet managed to lift itself and continue its two-decade stranglehold over Essendon. Bad old habits are starting to creep back into the Dons’ game, with more inside 50s in losses to Gold Coast, Carlton and Geelong. Forward delivery, cohesion and synergy are massive issues for Essendon. The Magpies certainly have their problems, and their slow starts against the Kangaroos and Suns respectively have been alarming. Contested ball and territory have been two major concerns for Collingwood recently as well but, like the Cats, they have a very good recent history over the Bombers, whose spot in the eight, let alone four, is starting to look vulnerable.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Essendon by 7 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1:15pm)
Was the Power’s dour win over the Saints a turning point for besieged coach Ken Hinkley? Or will it just serve to delay the inevitable? We could find out the answer to both questions as early as Saturday afternoon. It’s been a rough old month for Hinkley and his men, and after keeping the wolves at bay temporarily, they must now regroup and ready themselves for one of the most in-form teams in the league. After a slow start, the Bulldogs are coming with a bullet, having now won five of their last seven games to be half a game outside the top eight. The losses of Liam Jones (knee soreness) and Cody Weightman (groin) are significant, but the way Luke Beveridge’s team is currently travelling, it’ll take more than those two injuries to stop them heaping more pressure on Hinkley and Port Adelaide.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 11 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm)
If not now, then when? Seriously, the Suns won’t have a better opportunity to break their road hoodoo than this week when they tackle the last-placed Kangaroos in Docklands. Gold Coast has lost its last 14 games away from Carrara or Darwin, and as impressive as its home form has been – its last three wins have been against top-eight teams Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong – it really won’t count for much if it can’t start winning games on the road, especially if it fancies itself a finals contender. North’s form has definitely turned around in the past month, despite only managing one win in that time, and it will surely give the Suns a red-hot run for their money. But enough’s enough for Damien Hardwick’s team. This is the week that it has to register a win in Melbourne and use it as a launching pad for a run to a maiden top-eight berth.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 23 points.

GEELONG v HAWTHORN (Kardinia Park, Saturday 4:35pm)
Every week, the footy world waits for the wind to disappear from the Hawks’ sails, and every week Sam Mitchell’s young, effervescent, exciting team keeps going and going. Incredibly, they have now won eight of their last 10 games to become a legitimate finals sniff. But while the Cats haven’t been in great form, with just two wins from their past eight matches, they snapped back into action last week with a dominant 45-point win over Essendon. And taking them on at their home ground remains one of the biggest challenges in football, despite them splitting their last eight games there evenly 4-4. However, the biggest hurdle for the Hawks this week is perhaps the loss of inspirational captain James Sicily, who has succumbed to his lingering shoulder injury.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 9 points.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

GWS v CARLTON (Giants Stadium, Saturday 7:30pm)
The orange tsunami has turned into a trickle. The Giants just cannot get themselves up and running after starting the year 5-0 and looking like premiership fancies. They’ve now lost seven of their last 10 games, and their last outing against previously bottom-four Adelaide was perhaps the most galling of the lot. The loss of Josh Kelly (calf) this week just compounds things for GWS. And the Giants couldn’t have picked a worse team to come up against with their confidence through the floor. Like GWS was in the early part of the season, Carlton is looking every bit a flag contender having now won its last five games to shoot into the top two. All the Blues’ guns are firing and with the return of the league’s most in-form ruckman Tom De Koning, it promises to be another long afternoon for Adam Kingsley’s men.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 26 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 30 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 35 points.

FREMANTLE v RICHMOND (Optus Stadium, Saturday 6:10pm)
This one isn’t going to end well for the Tigers whose horrendous season had insult added to injury last week with a 10-goal loss to old foe Carlton. To expect them to then dust themselves off and travel to Perth to defeat the Dockers, who have now risen to third spot after their sensational win over premiership favourites Sydney at the SCG, would be fanciful. With key duo Brennan Cox and Michael Walters back from injury to further bolster the purple army, Richmond could be in for a world of hurt.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 45 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 38 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 45 points.

MELBOURNE v WEST COAST (MCG, Sunday 1:10pm)
The Demons might have lost last week, but they certainly didn’t lose any admirers as they almost defeated Brisbane at the Gabba in what was a much more spirited showing to what we were used to seeing from them in previous weeks. With Christian Salem and Jake Bowey named in the squad, and presumably set to bolster their backline, this match should take on a different complexion to the last time these sides met when Harley Reid inspired the Eagles to a scintillating win in Perth. Those days already seem like a distant memory with West Coast once again resembling a bottom side in the past month. The Demons are still only half a game outside the eight, and won’t waste this golden opportunity to stay in touch.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 39 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 27 points.

ST KILDA v SYDNEY (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm)
After making the finals last year, it’s all gone south for the Saints who have lost eight of their last 11 games to plummet to the bottom four. They must be one of the most confused teams in the league. When they employ an attacking brand of footy, they get beaten by Brisbane. When they revert back to their natural ultra-defensive, scrappy style, they still get done by Port Adelaide. In any event, it’s all academic, because they take on the ladder-leading Swans who are smarting from their second loss of the season which snapped their 10-game winning streak. St Kilda can try its best to clog up proceedings and mitigate the damage, but under a roof in pristine conditions, the Swans could have a feast.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 52 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 41 points.

BRISBANE v ADELAIDE (Gabba, Sunday 4:10pm)
The round starts with a rematch of a 2024 draw, and so it ends with a rematch of a 2024 draw. But unlike Friday night’s clash between the Pies and the Dons, this contest looks a bit more straightforward. The Lions are still showing signs of vulnerability, despite their impressive climb back up the ladder, but winning form is good form, and with just one loss from their past eight games, the Lions are back in business. Against a team that has had little to crow about (pardon pun) this season, Brisbane should encounter few issues as it continues its charge towards the finals.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 34 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 83
ROCO 83
ROCKET 82

*all times are local