Evergreen Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury prepares to handball during Round 4 against Carlton. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Marvel Stadium, Thursday 7:30pm)
The Kangaroos have selected this game to serve as the 100-year celebration of their entry into the VFL/AFL. But unfortunately for them, the positivity and good vibes probably won’t extend beyond the pre-game festivities. Just five days after being smashed by Hawthorn, they’ve been clobbered again, this time by injury. Luke Parker (soreness), Jack Darling (groin), George Wardlaw (concussion), Zac Fisher (managed) and Luke McDonald (shoulder) are all unavailable, and so are backmen Charlie Comben (shoulder), Jackson Archer (hamstring) and Aidan Corr (calf) – that spells disaster coming up against Sam Darcy who kicked a career-high seven goals last year against the Roos. At full strength this would’ve been a tall order for North Melbourne, let alone with all of those players missing. The Bulldogs have made a habit of getting a hold of weaker teams this year, and this could be another percentage-boosting example.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 84 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 45 points.

CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Friday 7:20pm)
It didn’t seem possible that things could get worse for the Blues after their stunning loss to North a couple of games ago, but invariably they did. A putrid performance against Port Adelaide, which saw them give up the first eight goals, increased pressure on coach Michael Voss and led to Princes Park being graffitied by disgruntled supporters. It couldn’t get much worse, could it? Well, this week they come up against their biggest rivals, who also happen to be premiership favourites. Carlton is playing like a disjointed team that has lost the hunger, spirit and care required to play at the top level. Conversely, the Magpies are one of the most well-drilled, talented and disciplined sides in the league. They are in cruise control, 10 points clear on top of the ladder, and the sizeable gap on the ladder between these two old foes will be apparent on the scoreboard when the final siren sounds.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 31 points.

WEST COAST v GWS (Optus Stadium, Friday 6:20pm)
Which GWS are we going to get this week? Is it the one that lost to Sydney, Fremantle and Port Adelaide? Or the one that defeated the Lions in Brisbane, Cats in Geelong and Gold Coast? That’s essentially what it boils down to when trying to ascertain who will win this match. Truth be told, even if the Giants are slightly off their tucker, they should still be good enough to beat the Eagles who lost to GWS by 81 points three months ago. West Coast certainly put in an admirable performance against ladder-leading Collingwood in Melbourne last week, but it still doesn’t inspire enough confidence to suggest it will register an upset win this round, even if star Giants forward Jesse Hogan (foot) is in doubt.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 17 points.

ESSENDON v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 12:35pm)
Essendon’s injury curse is so bad this year that players are going down during the bye! Darcy Parish (calf), Kyle Langford (quad), Mason Redman (hamstring) and Zach Reid (hamstring) will remain sidelined this week after all looking to be on track to play. And when the lengthy list of other unavailable key players is taken into consideration, it makes this encounter with Gold Coast a tough task. In better news for Essendon, Sam Durham (suspension) is back and Jordan Ridley (hamstring) should be as well. The Suns have no such personnel issues, and fresh from blowing Melbourne away in the first quarter last week, their magnificent midfield will be confident of repeating the dose against the Bombers.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 27 points.

GEELONG v RICHMOND (Kardinia Park, Saturday 4:15pm)
The wheels look like they’ve fallen off the young Tigers after a gallant first of the half season. They’ve now lost their last three games by an average of 64 points and currently have the words “easy kill” written all over them. They are absolutely no hope of challenging the Cats this week. In fact, given Geelong almost beat Essendon by 100 points recently, it should back itself to register the first triple-digit margin of victory for the season.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 89 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 55 points.

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

BRISBANE v PORT ADELAIDE (Gabba, Saturday 7:35pm)
The Power have rediscovered some of their mojo recently, with three wins from their last four games, but when it comes to swagger, it would be hard to find a team that would outdo the Lions right now given their most recent performance yielded a 41-point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park. It was an emphatic result that put everyone on notice regarding the reigning premiers’ ambitions for back-to-back flags. At their very best, as they were against the Cats, the Lions are one of the most eye-catching teams in the league, and are almost impossible to stop. With Callum Ah Chee and Darcy Gardiner both due back from illness, and gun ruckman Oscar McInerney available if needed, Brisbane is in a great position. Port Adelaide recruit Jack Lukosius (knee/back) should be back for his first game since Round 2, in a boost for Ken Hinkley’s men, but it certainly won’t be enough to cause a boilover.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 29 points.

ST KILDA v HAWTHORN (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7:40pm)
The Saints have definitely put in more impressive performances in the past two weeks since their disastrous 12-goal belting at the hands of the Bulldogs, but losses to the Magpies and Freo mean that they’ve now won just one of their past seven matches. That’s not the kind of formline you want to take into a clash against a top-four contender which has now won its last three matches in impressive fashion. While St Kilda should benefit from the returns of Bradley Hill (illness) and Jimmy Webster (managed), the Hawks could regain James Sicily (hip), James Worpel (quad) and Jack Scrimshaw (hamstring). And although the loss of the hard-running Josh Weddle (back) is significant, the Hawks will have too much firepower for the rugged Saints to cope with.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 19 points.

SYDNEY v FREMANTLE (SCG, Sunday 1:10pm)
First things first: is this game even going ahead? After the absolute debacle that was the SCG turf last weekend, which overshadowed a cracking game between the Swans and Bulldogs, there would have to be serious concerns about the prospect of it being safe to play on nine days later. It’s a miracle that no player suffered an injury as a result of the state of the playing surface. But if the game does take place, it should be the match of the round. Sydney is clearly reinvigorated by finally getting most of its first-choice players back, and the Dockers are riding a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2022. The Swans should regain Tom McCartin (illness) and Joel Amartey (hamstring), but will lose Dane Rampe (calf) and Aaron Francis (suspension). Meanwhile, captain Alex Pearce (shin) and Jaeger O’Meara (hamstring) could return for Fremantle. The Dockers have been in good form, but the Swans look like they’ve got the glint back in their eye and loom as a wrecking ball in the last couple of months of the season.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 7 points.

ADELAIDE v MELBOURNE (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 2:45pm)
With both the second-best attack and defence, the Crows are arguably the most balanced team in the competition. And it’s not hard to understand why. Up forward, they’ve got ominous scoring threats in Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine and Ben Keays, and down back, they have one of the best defensive units in the land with Josh Worrell, Mark Keane, Wayne Milera and Max Michalanney combining magnificently. Like Carlton, Melbourne looks like it has lost its way badly, and when you’re coming up against one of the hottest teams in the AFL in that shape, a car crash could be in the offing.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 52 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 27 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 100
RONNY 90
ROCKET 88

*all times are local