Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson flies high as the Magpies beat Port Adelaide in round 7 last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

NORTH MELBOURNE v WEST COAST (Metricon Stadium, Thursday 7.10pm local time)
The Kangaroos’ drop-off from the second half of last year, when Rhyce Shaw took over as caretaker coach, to this season, when Shaw assumed the role on a full-time basis, has been quite alarming. Yes, they’ve been hit hard by injury, but not many pundits would’ve picked them to win just three games and go close to claiming the wooden spoon. Yet here they are – spiritless, careless, lack-lustre and waiting to be put out of their misery. And West Coast, with a top-four spot to play for, will do just that. To get the double chance, the Eagles will have to beat North and pray for Sydney to beat Geelong and/or Adelaide to beat Richmond – it would be miraculous and highly unlikely. However, Adam Simpson’s men can only control what they can control, and they should have no issues putting the hapless Kangas to the sword, even with a lengthy injury list that would rival North’s. In 2020, Shaw’s team has averaged 27 points from intercept possessions (ranked last) while the Eagles have averaged 39 (ranked sixth).
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 38 points.

ST KILDA v GWS (Gabba, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The finals essentially arrived last week for a few teams, and they certainly continue in round 18 for the Saints and Giants. All St Kilda (seventh) has to do is win to qualify for its first finals campaign in nine years, but if it loses, the Bulldogs (eighth) beat Fremantle and Melbourne beats Essendon by a big enough margin and/or the Saints lose to GWS by approximately nine goals, then Brett Ratten’s men will slip out of the top eight for the first time since round three – and the timing couldn’t be worse. The Giants’ (10th) path to the finals is trickier, because they have to beat the Saints and then overtake two of St Kilda, the Dogs and Melbourne. A loss would kill any hope Greater Western Sydney has of finishing in the eight. Both St Kilda and GWS have only won two of their last six games respectively, but the Saints have been in better form and should be good enough to account for the Giants, who appear to have checked out for season 2020 and have looked in disarray at times during the year.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 14 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 6 points.

ESSENDON v MELBOURNE (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
The Demons’ (ninth) season is also on the line this weekend, and to qualify for the finals they have to beat Essendon and hope Fremantle beats the Bulldogs, or they will need GWS to beat St Kilda and then beat Essendon by a big enough margin to overtake the Saints’ percentage. Of course, both the Saints and Dogs losing would be the ideal scenario for Melbourne. For their part in the deal, the Demons should be met with little resistance by the Bombers. Yes, the Dees have shown they are capable of losing games they are supposed to win over the years (look no further than their recent disastrous Cairns double-header against Sydney and Fremantle), but on those occasions, their opponents more often than not have had spirit, purpose and belief driving them – Essendon possesses none of those qualities. Yet another Bomber season is petering out without a whimper, and if Simon Goodwin’s men are even half-serious about returning to the finals action, they should have no issues brushing the Dons aside – especially if last round is used as a guide. In round 17, Essendon scored a goal from 13 per cent of its inside 50s (ranked 17th), while the Demons had a strike rate of 31 per cent (ranked first).
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 33 points
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 18 points.

ADELAIDE v RICHMOND (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 4.40pm local time)
Finally, the Adelaide faithful have been given some joy from a train wreck of a season with their side notching a third consecutive victory against Carlton last weekend. The most impressive part of the Crows’ late-season resurgence is that two of their victories have come against teams who were still in the finals race. With their tails in the air and an outside possibility of avoiding their first ever wooden spoon, the Crows head into this game full of confidence. The only problem is that they’re facing the outright premiership favourite, which has to win to guarantee itself a top-four spot and the coveted double chance. A loss to Adelaide would be catastrophic for Richmond (third), with Geelong (fourth) and West Coast (fifth) facing lowly Sydney and North Melbourne respectively this round. Wins for the Cats and Eagles would see them overtake the Tigers if they were to somehow lose to Adelaide. But they won’t. The way Richmond has taken care of fellow flag contenders this year (aside from Port Adelaide) has been breathtakingly clinical, so the wooden spoon favourite should be a stroll in the park for Damien Hardwick’s men.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 42 points.

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BRISBANE v CARLTON (Gabba, Saturday 7.40pm local time)
What a disappointing way for Carlton’s season to end. All it had to do was beat bottom-placed Adelaide to remain in the finals race into the last round of the season, but it couldn’t even do that – it was the Blues’ most embarrassing result of the year. Now, with nothing left to play for, they resemble a lame duck waiting to be torn to shreds by a Brisbane team which has two home finals guaranteed and will finish in the top two for the second season in a row. Perhaps more importantly, the Lions are aiming for their first minor premiership since becoming a joint venture in 1997, and the club’s first since Fitzroy claimed its last one back in 1913. Having won their last six games in a row, and still undefeated at the Gabba this season in eight games, the Lions will have few issues dealing with Carlton. Emotions are sure to be high post-game as the Blues farewell their favourite son Kade Simpson, who is retiring after 342 matches.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 37 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 26 points.

HAWTHORN v GOLD COAST (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 12.35pm local time)
On form, you’d probably say the Suns should win this game, but you must wonder what kind of an effect it will have on the Hawks to say farewell to two triple premiership stars in captain Ben Stratton and goalsneak Paul Puopolo, who have both announced their retirements. Hawthorn has lost 12 of its last 13 games and is headed for its worst finish to a season since 2004. Meanwhile, the Suns smashed North Melbourne a couple of games ago and challenged Collingwood last round before falling away at the end. By beating Hawthorn, they could finish 13th which would be their second-best ending to a season. It’s tempting to back the Hawks for sentimental purposes, not to mention the fact they’ve only lost to the Suns twice before, but Stuart Dew’s side seems more competent and reliable at the moment and the opportunity to potentially leapfrog Essendon on the ladder should provide some added motivation.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 2 points.

SYDNEY v GEELONG (Metricon Stadium, Sunday 3.35pm local time)
The young Swans have definitely shown some promising signs this year, in what has been a challenging season without so many of their best players for such long periods. And while they have managed to trouble many sides despite being a bottom-four team, it’s hard to imagine that they’re going to pose much of a threat to Geelong, which is not only on the rebound from its humbling defeat to Richmond, but also looking to guarantee itself a top-four spot and a double chance. And when you take into consideration that Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Gary Rohan and Rhys Stanley all look set to be brought back into the Cats’ team, this has all the hallmarks of one last ruthless tune-up before the finals begin. This writer isn’t expecting Geelong to show John Longmire’s side any mercy, and nor should it, because it needs to sharpen its claws on an easy kill with yet another premiership tilt on the horizon. And if the game is already done and dusted by three-quarter time, heaven help the Swans because they have averaged 24 points in final quarters this year (ranked last) while Geelong has averaged 41 (first).
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 56 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 48 points.

FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Cairns, Sunday 6.10pm local time)
This might be a contest between a team which cannot make the finals (Fremantle) and a team that is fighting for a spot in the top eight (Bulldogs), but it’s probably the hardest game of the round to tip. And when you add to the mix the x-factor of Cazaly’s Stadium, which has produced a couple of upset results already this year (one of which Fremantle was responsible for, against Melbourne), the intrigue only increases. However, the Bulldogs do have a perfect 4-0 record at the venue (all games against Gold Coast). Put simply, if the Dogs win – they’re in. But if they lose, they would need Melbourne, and probably GWS, to lose as well to sneak into the finals. Things will be made much easier for Luke Beveridge’s team if it takes care of business itself. But that won’t be an easy task, because Fremantle is finishing the season with a wet sail and has become one of the most focused, disciplined and structured teams in the competition under rookie coach Justin Longmuir since its 0-4 start to the year. The Bulldogs should regain Easton Wood (hamstring), but unfortunately have lost Toby McLean (knee). Meanwhile, Fremantle could welcome back Reece Conca (hamstring), Griffin Logue (toe) and Brett Bewley (groin). This promises to be a really tense and tight affair, but with so much on the line, the Dogs simply have to get the chocolates.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 9 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 12 points.

COLLINGWOOD v PORT ADELAIDE (Gabba, Monday 7.15pm local time)
The Magpies look like a different team with Jordan De Goey and Adam Treloar in the line-up, with both players instrumental in their side’s victory over Gold Coast in round 17. But it must be said that if it wasn’t for those two, the Magpies would have really struggled to put away the bottom-five Suns, which is a worrying sign ahead of their meeting with the competition pace-setters. Aside from their thumping win over Melbourne, the Power have struggled at the Gabba, while Collingwood has a 4-2 record at the venue and is about to play its sixth game in a row there. So the Magpies do have the advantage of being nice and settled. But that will only take them so far against one of the AFL’s in-form sides. The way Port Adelaide blew Essendon away in the wet last week was quite simply awesome, and Ken Hinkley’s side heads into this game on the back of a four-match winning streak. Collingwood has already made the finals, but runs the risk of facing West Coast in Perth in the first week if it loses to Port Adelaide. The Power need to win to claim their fourth McLelland Trophy, and first since 2004, and become the first side since the 2000 Essendon machine to remain on top of the ladder for an entire season. They’re playing exquisite footy at the moment and should overwhelm Nathan Buckley’s team.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 8 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 96
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 101