Gary Rohan booted four goals when Geelong last met (and beat) Hawthorn in round five. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

ADELAIDE v ESSENDON (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7.20pm local time)
What a way to kick off the round – seventh versus eighth in a match that has serious implications for both teams’ finals chances. With six wins from their past eight games, the Bombers have developed a harder edge and are in better form than the Crows. However, the injuries are mounting for John Worsfold’s side at the wrong time of the year. The losses of Orazio Fantasia (hip) and Michael Hurley (AC joint) are huge, while the absence of Zac Clarke (illness) puts enormous structural strain on the team, with Shaun McKernan their only fit recognised ruckman. They do regain captain Dyson Heppell and defender Patrick Ambrose, but the likes of Joe Daniher, Devon Smith and Tom Bellchambers are also still missing. With the return of influential link man Tom Lynch, Adelaide are close to full strength, and while you can’t write off Essendon given the way they Bombers have been able to consistently grind out wins recently, this task might just be beyond them.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 6 points.

RICHMOND v PORT ADELAIDE (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
Who can honestly say with confidence they know how Port Adelaide is going to play this weekend? The Power’s Jekyll-and-Hyde season continued unabated last round with an embarrassing loss to the Lions, ensuring their loss-win pattern stretched into a ninth consecutive week. It’s for this reason the Tigers should be a little nervous. But other than that, Richmond doesn’t have that much to worry about. Momentum is growing down at Punt Road and the Tigers are looking more and more like a premiership threat which each passing week. The fact that they now have the luxury of leaving out premiership stars Josh Caddy and Kamdyn McIntosh from their team tells you all you need to know about the strong position they are in. Conversely, Port Adelaide has to make do without stars Ryan Burton (hamstring), Brad Ebert (knee) and Ollie Wines (thumb) which means its finals hopes are going to take a huge hit this week.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 35 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 28 points.

CARLTON v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
It’s hard to see any result other than a Carlton win in this game. The spirit and energy levels at both teams are poles apart with the Blues enjoying a dramatic form turnaround under caretaker coach David Teague and the Suns all but giving up on season 2019 with back-to-back losses by over 90 points. Gold Coast has now lost 12 games in a row – its worst run since it lost 21 in a row across its first two seasons in the competition in 2011-12. Given the Blues are 17th on the ladder, it just shows how far off the pace the Suns have slipped.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 40 points.

GWS v COLLINGWOOD (Giants Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
The stakes are very high for Greater Western Sydney as its season looks to be in danger of spiralling out of control. For most of 2019, the Giants have looked like sure things for top-four, but a stunning loss of form and more injuries to key players has put their finals hopes in jeopardy. And with Stephen Coniglio (knee) joining Josh Kelly (calf), Callan Ward (knee), Matt de Boer (shoulder), Jonathon Patton (knee), Zac Langdon (ankle) and Aidan Corr (calf) on the injury list, GWS will be up against it to avoid its fourth loss in a row. Jeremy Finlayson and Shane Mumford are welcome returns, though. Interestingly, GWS has named both Mumford and Dawson Simpson – perhaps inspired by other teams who have double-teamed Brodie Grundy effectively in the last 12 months. The Magpies have been hit by the injury stick all season too, but Taylor Adams, Jeremy Howe and Travis Varcoe all return to bolster their line-up after their memorable one-point win over West Coast last week. However, doubts remain over Scott Pendlebury’s availability due to a finger injury. The Lions proved recently that Giants Stadium isn’t impenetrable, and with a 3-1 record at the ground, Collingwood, one of the best travelling teams in the competition, will back itself to do the job again.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 16 points.

BRISBANE v NORTH MELBOURNE (Gabba, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
Has the Kangaroos’ honeymoon period under caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw finally come to an end? An agonising last-gasp loss to Essendon last week certainly took some wind out of their sails, and, as a result, they now sit two games outside the top eight with six weeks to go. North’s margin for error in the home stretch in its bid to make the finals is virtually non-existent. Unfortunately for the Roos, they are running into the form team of the competition, which gets to welcome back Eric Hipwood, Luke Hodge and Hugh McCluggage, if you don’t mind. North has brought back Shaun Higgins and Mason Wood, but after 10 years, the Gabba has finally earned its “Gabbatoir” moniker again. And given North Melbourne has beaten the Lions on their home turf the last four times they’ve played there, Chris Fagan’s men will be keener this week than most to show just how ominous their Brisbane fortress has become.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 24 points.

FREMANTLE v SYDNEY (Optus Stadium, Saturday 6.10pm local time)
From two of the competition’s most in-form teams, to two of the competition’s most out-of-form teams. Haven’t the wheels fallen off the Dockers and Swans in spectacular fashion? After taking down Brisbane, Collingwood and Port Adelaide, Freo looked like it was headed for September, especially with Michael Walters being touted as the most in-form player in the AFL. But after being hammered by injury to key players, and experiencing four bitterly disappointing losses in a row, the Dockers are in freefall. The Swans are also in shoddy shape after being shown up by bottom-two Carlton at the SCG last week, snuffing out what little momentum they managed to generate in the previous couple of months. It gets worse for the Dockers, who lose their inspirational captain Nat Fyfe (elbow). This really is a flip-of-the-coin job, but Freo has never lost two games in a row against non-Perth sides at Optus Stadium (it lost to Carlton there three weeks ago) and has never lost three matches in a row there, either (it lost to West Coast there two weeks ago).
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 10 points.

GEELONG v HAWTHORN (MCG, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
The form book generally goes out the window when two arch rivals lock horns, and the Cats and Hawks are no exception. Extra intrigue has been added to this clash given Geelong is experiencing a bit of a form dip and the Hawks are enjoying a return to form. The fact that the Hawks will be desperately aiming to keep their faint finals hopes alive while the Cats have all but assured themselves of a top-two spot might have an impact on the contest too. Alastair Clarkson’s men certainly have more to play for, and the return of Jack Gunston is timely. With five wins from their last seven meetings, the Cats have the wood over the Hawks, and Geelong coach Chris Scott’s bemoaning of potentially being denied a home final at Kardinia Park is a bit bewildering given they are 4-0 at the MCG this year. Geelong does seem ‘gettable’ at the moment, but the Cats have still probably got Hawthorn’s measure.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 12 points.

MELBOURNE v WEST COAST (Alice Springs, Sunday 2.50pm local time)
The Eagles may have lost Nic Naitanui (ankle) and Jamie Cripps (adductor) to injury, but it’s going to take a lot more than that for Melbourne to produce one of the upsets of the season. The Eagles would be steaming after their shock loss to Collingwood last week at home and will be hell-bent on making amends for that performance. West Coast hasn’t lost consecutive games too often in the last five years and, really, should make light work of the Demons. Season 2019 has been a horror show for 16th-placed Melbourne, which will slip to 17th if Carlton beats Gold Coast as it’s expected to do. The post-season can’t come quick enough for Simon Goodwin’s men, and the gulf in talent and class between West Coast and Melbourne will be evident in the Top End this week.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 30 points.

ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4.40pm local time)
Can the Saints make it three from three? Both Carlton and North Melbourne scored victories in their first games under caretaker coaches this year, so Alan Richardson’s replacement Brett Ratten will be hoping for a hat-trick this round. It’s been yet another dramatic week in the chequered history of the St Kilda Football Club as it bids farewell to its second-longest serving coach. The Western Bulldogs, meanwhile, will be asking themselves what have they done wrong. Just as they look like they’ve got their season back on track, they now have to confront a St Kilda side with the shackles broken and the pressure released. The Saints haven’t had much to cheer about since round five, with just two wins against lowly Carlton and Gold Coast, but don’t be surprised if the new coach factor pushes them close to a victory this week. The Dogs should still be good enough with their squad significantly bolstered by Tom Liberatore, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel and Dale Morris, but history suggests it won’t be a picnic. Still, the Doggies should make it four wins in a row and keep in touch with the top eight.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 6 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 14 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 85
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 93