Bombers are jubilant and Crows are bewildered after Essendon ruckman Sam Draper (bottom) was not penalised for holding the ball on the siren in Round 6. Photo: AFL MEDIA

ESSENDON v ADELAIDE (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:40pm)
Good news for the Bombers: they’re playing under a roof in perfect conditions this week. In fact, four of their next five are at the Docklands venue, so they can rest easy that they won’t be playing in the wet many more times this season, because they have done so in two of their last three games and have put in absolutely horrible performances against Geelong and Melbourne on each occasion. They’ve made some pretty interesting calls at the selection table by dropping Peter Wright, Dyson Heppell and Nick Hind – all three of which have been more or less walk-up starts to the best 23 this year – but they take on an Adelaide team that cannot make the finals and is missing two of its most dangerous players in Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker. As impressive as the Crows were last week against St Kilda, they weren’t playing much. Adelaide has lost its last seven in a row against Essendon, including four at this venue, and that record streak between these two clubs should continue. A win for Essendon, remarkably, could conceivably see it return to the top four, such is the zaniness of season 2024.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Essendon by 13 points.

ST KILDA v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm)
As already mentioned, St Kilda really lowered its colours last week after causing the upset of the season the round prior in downing ladder-leading premiership favourite Sydney. But back at the familiar surrounds of the scene of the crime against the Swans, with Bradley Hill and Liam Stocker back, the Saints should be far too strong for a battling West Coast outfit that will be missing Jeremy McGovern (ribs/lung), Jake Waterman (knee), Elliot Yeo (soreness) and Liam Duggan (concussion).
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 11 points.

GWS v GOLD COAST (Giants Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm)
Can the Suns finally do it? It’s been 15 games and 14 months since Gold Coast tasted victory on the road. No team this year has a starker home-and-away record than the Suns who have won all nine games at Carrara and Darwin, and lost all eight games elsewhere. If they’re to buck that alarming trend this week, they will be made to earn it, because the Giants look like they’re back in action having won back-to-back games for the first time in three months and, more importantly, their famed ‘orange tsunami’ slingshot game from the back half was back with a vengeance against both the Blues and Tigers. There’s no doubt the Suns have the talent to beat GWS, and they’ve brought back a trio of seasoned campaigners in Lachie Weller, David Swallow and Alex Sexton, while the Giants lose Stephen Coniglio (shoulder). But quite simply, the Suns cannot be trusted – even with a top-eight spot in touching distance. The Giants have designs on a double chance as they look to ensure their 2023-like resurgence continues in the second half of the season.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 5 points.

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Saturday 4:35pm)
The Hawks are another team facing a moment of truth this round. They might be 13th but they’re just a game outside the top eight as their remarkable recovery from an 0-5 start continues. Sam Mitchell’s men have now won nine of their last 12 games to not only be the biggest surprise packets of 2024 but keep their unlikely finals dream alive. And a win over the ailing reigning premier would be as big a declaration as any that Hawthorn has arrived. Collingwood resembles a defending boxing world heavyweight champion on the ropes and having survived a couple of standing eight counts. The Pies have now lost three games in a row for the second time this year to plummet to 12th spot with six games remaining. They’re well and truly in the finals race still, but can they keep fronting up while frequently contending with a significant injury list? They’re still missing Brody Mihocek (pectoral), Tom Mitchell (foot), Beau McCreery (calf), Lachie Schultz (concussion) and Mason Cox (knee), but mercifully, they regain Jeremy Howe and comeback man Daniel McStay who plays his first game of the year after overcoming an ACL injury. But the Pies just haven’t looked themselves recently, and with former favourite son Jack Ginnivan returning for the Hawks, as well as Finn Maginness who will no doubt follow Nick Daicos everywhere he goes, it could be lights out for Collingwood’s season.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 7 points.

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GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Kardinia Park, Saturday 7:30pm)
A month is certainly a long time in footy. When Geelong had lost six of their previous seven games, its epitaphs were being written all over the country. Yet three weeks, and three wins, later, the Cats are again being talked about as a premiership threat after returning to the top four. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ topsy-turvy season continued and after being shellacked by Port Adelaide in Round 17, they responded by producing one of the biggest stunners of the year, as their undermanned team downed flag fancy Carlton by 14 points in Blues captain Patrick Cripps’ 200th game, no less. And with Adam Treloar and Aaron Naughton returning to the line-up, the Dogs’ confidence will have increased even more. They also have fond memories of Kardinia Park after triumphing in their last game there last season. It would be surprising to see them back that performance up, but you can never count out these unpredictable Dogs. It promises to be a cracking game.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 17 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7pm)
This is a clash between the walking wounded with Port Adelaide losing Lachie Jones (concussion), Kane Farrell (hamstring), Todd Marshall (hip) and Jeremy Finlayson (spleen), while bottom-of-the-ladder Richmond has had to leave out Tim Taranto (concussion), Nick Vlastuin (back) and Jack Graham (hip). Not to mention the fact that the Power were already missing Sam Powell-Pepper (knee), Ryan Burton (foot), Ivan Soldo (knee) and Trent McKenzie (hamstring), while the Tigers’ injury list also features Dustin Martin (back), Tom Lynch (hamstring), Dylan Grimes (back), Marlion Pickett (calf), Maurice Rioli (ankle), Mykelti Lefau (knee), Josh Gibcus (knee), Jack Ross (foot) and Tylar Young (knee). The Tigers were competitive last week against GWS, but lacked that crucial polish to finish off their good work. And that won’t do against a Port Adelaide team that has slipped out of the top eight, and is desperate to stay in touch. Fortunately for the Power, amid the carnage, they’ve been able to welcome back Mitch Georgiades, Willie Rioli and Esava Ratugolea.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 38 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 27 points.

BRISBANE v SYDNEY (Gabba, Sunday 1:10pm)
It’s not exactly a timeslot befitting the match of the round, but the fourth-placed Lions host the No.1-ranked Swans in what promises to be an absolute barnburner of a game. Brisbane’s resurgence has been extraordinary. After falling to 13th spot with a 2-5 record, and staying there up until Round 14, the Lions have gone on a tear, losing just one of their last 10 games, to rocket back up into the top four. Having won their last six games, Chris Fagan’s men look as though they’re back in business. And they take on the Swans at a vulnerable time with James Rowbottom (cheekbone), Callum Mills (managed) and Justin McInerney (knee) all making way. Although they do welcome back Isaac Heeney and Harry Cunningham, while the Lions regain Brandon Starcevich. To be fair, both sides head into this game in average form. Brisbane’s last three wins against Melbourne, Adelaide and West Coast haven’t been overly impressive, while Sydney thumped bottom-two North Melbourne last week after dropping consecutive games to Fremantle and St Kilda. The Swans probably have more gears and weapons than last year’s runner-up, but it should be a tight one.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 5 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 9 points.

FREMANTLE v MELBOURNE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 1:20pm)
The revamped Demons have got their edge back in recent weeks. After getting thumped by Freo and Collingwood in back-to-back weeks, before scraping past lowly North Melbourne by the skin of their teeth, they’ve looked like a different team in their narrow loss to Brisbane and recent wins against West Coast and Essendon. A mixture of hungry, talented youngsters, and crucial positional moves, have really paid dividends for Melbourne. But can they keep the wagon rolling in Perth against Fremantle again missing dynamic duo Max Gawn and Christian Petracca? They got away with no Gawn in the wet last week, and they might be able to repeat the dose this week with forecast showers for Perth on Sunday. Fremantle will still be smarting at wasting a golden chance to move to second, after blowing a three-quarter time lead against Hawthorn, and with captain Alex Pearce, Sean Darcy and Brandon Walker all named in the squad, a strong response can be expected.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 18 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 15 points.

CARLTON v NORTH MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4:40pm)
The only reason why the Blues are second still is because Fremantle and Essendon both let them off the hook last week. Carlton is reeling from its worst fortnight of the season, giving up a 39-point lead to GWS before succumbing to an injury-ravaged Bulldogs, as their midfield, in particular, had its colours lowered badly on both occasions. Luckily for Michael Voss’ team, it comes up against the struggling Kangaroos who were brought back down to earth last week with a massive thud by the Swans. North has been more competitive since the bye, but upsetting Carlton this weekend is definitely a bridge too far.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 40 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 19 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 94
ROCO 93
ROCKET 93

*all times are local