Ronny Lerner’s Previews With Punch: Round 19

Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney remonstrates with Bulldogs forward Rhylee West as Tom Liberatore (left) attempts to intervene. Photos: AFL MEDIA

ESSENDON v GWS (Marvel Stadium, Thursday 7:30pm)
The Bombers are living proof of the saying: just when you think it can’t get any worse, it can! Essendon was already suffering one of the worst injury crises the league had ever seen heading into last round, and, incredibly, it has deepened. Nic Martin (knee), Nate Caddy (groin), Will Setterfield (foot) and Elijah Tsatas (hamstring) are the latest victims, taking the club’s total number of unavailable players this week to a whopping 17. The Bombers are set to equal Fitzroy’s all-time record of 13 debutants in one season (excluding first-year clubs) by handing Liam McMahon his first game, and, incredibly, their full-forward line could feature all mid-season recruits in McMahon, Archer May and Oskar Smartt. Essendon is in total disarray and has been forced to make another six changes to its line-up. All signs point to an absolute drubbing at the hands of the Giants who appear to be priming themselves beautifully for a run to the finals.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 79 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 38 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 45 points.

BRISBANE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Gabba, Friday 7:40pm)
The time has come for the Western Bulldogs to take a stand. While they had legitimate excuses for falling short against top-eight teams in the early part of the season when they were ravaged by injury, their inability to take care of such sides in recent times has been inexcusable. The Dogs are now an unacceptable 1-7 against the best teams and if they want to be taken seriously as a premiership threat this year, they need to take a big scalp, starting this week as they embark on one of the toughest challenges in footy – the Lions in Brisbane. Chris Fagan’s men are certainly not invincible on their home deck. After all, they’ve lost there three times already this year. But they find themselves in fantastic form at the moment, having won their last three games by an average of six goals. The Achilles injury to Noah Answerth serves as another blow to their backline, following the recent loss of Jack Payne (knee), and Zac Bailey (suspension) is a big out as well. Keidean Coleman could be back for his first game in two months, though. After being exposed in defence last week, it would be wise for the Bulldogs to consider bringing in one of Liam Jones, Jedd Busslinger or Buku Khamis. If they manage to get on top in the middle and subdue Brisbane’s lethal attacking weapons, they might just spring an upset and potentially re-enter the top eight.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 7 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 15 points.

HAWTHORN v PORT ADELAIDE (Launceston, Saturday 1:20pm)
Speaking of the top eight, the Hawks all of a sudden find themselves precariously placed in sixth spot and just a game inside after their thrilling loss to Fremantle last week. That’s why they cannot take any chances on Saturday by taking the Power lightly in what looms as a bit of a danger game. While Port Adelaide is a shadow of the perennial top-four side it has been in years gone by, it is still unpredictable and capable of pulling out a performance from the top drawer when you least expect it. But the Power will certainly be done no favours by the loss of Jason Horne-Francis (foot), while Connor Rozee (hand) is in doubt, too. The Hawks have won their last nine at this venue and should extend that streak into double digits.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 26 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 27 points.

SYDNEY v NORTH MELBOURNE (SCG, Saturday 4:15pm)
It’s a familiar story for the Kangaroos. Just when they looked like they turned the corner (again) after winning three out of five games, they revert to type by losing three in a row by an average of 57 points and appear as though they’re back at square one for the umpteenth time. Conversely, their opponents are enjoying a late-season resurgence. With a number of their key players back from injury and playing regularly, the Swans have won four of their last five games, after only managing four wins in their first 12 outings, and are charging hard towards the finish line. The loss of ruckman Tristan Xerri for North Melbourne due to suspension could be pivotal considering his would-be opposite number Brodie Grundy has been in such good form.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 23 points.

CARLTON v MELBOURNE (MCG, Saturday 7:35pm)
The season is well and truly done and dusted for these two sides, and neither of them enter this contest on the back of flash form. The Blues have lost their last four games and the Demons only just snapped their five-match losing streak by beating struggling North Melbourne on the weekend. Indeed, it is amazing to think that these two sides played off in an epic semi-final only two years ago. How quickly things change. Carlton has been killed by its poor ball use and costly turnovers, especially in defence, in the past month, and worryingly, those two glaring defects are showing no signs of improving. But will the Blues’ form slump continue indefinitely? Surely things have got to turn around at some stage. Why not against a Melbourne side that hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire of late? The Demons are gettable, and if the Blues manage to dig deep and apply pressure consistently, they’ll be a decent chance.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 29 points.

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WEST COAST v RICHMOND (Optus Stadium, Saturday 6:10pm)
And the other game on Saturday night isn’t exactly a blockbuster affair either as the bottom two sides square off in a contest that surely only their respective fan bases will be interested in. The Eagles are rock bottom yet again with just one win, as their prolonged wretched run has stretched into a fourth season, while the Tigers are second-last but have their tails up after recording their fourth win of the year last week. West Coast’s dismal period is bad on an historic level, considering it has won just 11 of its last 89 games, which is the same record University had before exiting the league in 1914. Even Fitzroy’s return over that same length of time (19-70) was better than that of the Eagles. West Coast might be at home, but one can’t help but be impressed with how Richmond has performed this year against the odds, and a fifth victory would not be at all surprising in a result that would deliver the Eagles a second wooden spoon in three years (if it hasn’t already sewn it up).
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: West Coast by 17 points.

GEELONG v ST KILDA (Kardinia Park, Sunday 1:10pm)
The Cats will be smarting after losing to a second premiership contender in the space of three weeks, especially considering the Lions and Giants had already beaten them earlier in the year. It will almost certainly serve as the sobering experience needed for Geelong to rebound ferociously this week against a plucky St Kilda side. Incidentally, the Saints have also beaten the Cats this year and have proven to be a bogey side for them in recent seasons, with four wins from their past six meetings. However, throughout that period, the games at Marvel Stadium have gone St Kilda’s way, and the ones at the Cattery have gone Geelong’s way. It would be surprising if that trend didn’t continue this week, especially with Sam De Koning (shoulder) set to return for the Cats.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 13 points.

COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE (MCG, Sunday 3:15pm)
This promises to be one of the matches of the round between two of the most in-form teams in the competition. The Magpies only just had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a six-point thriller by Gold Coast, while the Dockers have won seven of their last eight matches. But after clinching impressive road wins this year against GWS and Gold Coast, can Fremantle claim the biggest scalp away from home there is? With their confidence sky high, Justin Longmuir’s men certainly believe they can. And the Magpies look slightly vulnerable with Jeremy Howe (groin) and Dan Houston (abdomen) both ruled out and Lachie Schultz (hamstring) in doubt. But they’ll be hoping to regain Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery and Pat Lipinski. Meanwhile, Fremantle could be boosted by the return of Hayden Young (hamstring). The Dockers go alright at the MCG, having now split their last eight games there 4-4, and could give the Magpies a run for their money. But the premiership favourites will be too strong.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 19 points.

ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4:10pm)
The weekend finishes with a top-five blockbuster between the high-flying Crows and the surging Suns. Gold Coast is still riding high following arguably the biggest win in club history which saw it take down league leader Collingwood, while Adelaide is fresh from upsetting the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium to make it eight wins from their last 10 matches. The Crows’ ‘three-headed monster’ in attack consisting of Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Taylor Walker seems to be getting more potent with each passing week, and will ensure Gold Coast’s backline will have its hands full. That’s why the Suns will be desperate for Sam Collins (calf) to line up. No doubt Thilthorpe still has memories of Mac Andrew’s post-match taunting from earlier this year still fresh in his mind after Gold Coast won one of the games of the year by a solitary point. And having just booted a career-high six goals last round, Thilthorpe will surely be keen to repeat the dose against his nemesis Andrew. The Suns midfield is more than capable of matching it with Adelaide’s engine room, but Touk Miller (hamstring) is a big loss in that high half-forward role. The Crows defence is in formidable form too.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 4 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 9 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 114
RONNY 105
ROCKET 101

*all times are local