Ronny Lerner’s Previews With Punch: Round 2

Richmond star Tom Lynch celebrates another goal in the Tigers’ round 19 win over the Pies last year. Photo: AFL MEDIA

COLLINGWOOD v RICHMOND (MCG, Thursday 7.40pm local time)
For the second time this year it gives this writer great pleasure to declare “the footy is back!” And what better way to resume the 2020 season than with a heavyweight showdown between two premiership fancies. The Pies and Tigers head into this game on the back of clinical first-up wins against the Bulldogs and Carlton respectively and are fielding relatively strong sides. The only notable absentees are Adam Treloar for Collingwood and Josh Caddy for Richmond – both players battling calf complaints. The feelgood story is Jack Higgins returning for the Tigers after overcoming a scary brain condition, and dual premiership star Bachar Houli joins him in the team. Having finished in the top four last year, these two sides look very strong again in 2020 and are very hard to split. The Magpies looked ominous against the Doggies, but Richmond has won its last 13 games (a club record), including 10 in a row at the MCG, and should have the edge.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 18 points

GEELONG v HAWTHORN (Kardinia Park, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The second game of the round ain’t too shabby, either, with one of the great rivalries of the past 30 years resuming, and for the first time since 2006 the Hawks will face the Cats at the latter’s spiritual home. Hawthorn got off to a flyer in round one, comfortably accounting for the highly-rated Brisbane by five goals, but the same couldn’t be said for Geelong which never really looked like threatening GWS on the way to a 32-point loss. Outside of Hawthorn duo Jarman Impey (knee) and Daniel Howe (foot), both sides are close to full strength, although the Hawks will be sweating on the fitness of Jaeger O’Meara (facial fracture) and Blake Hardwick (pectoral). It will be interesting to see how much of a fortress “The Cattery” is without fans in attendance, but that’s just one obstacle for opposition teams to overcome because the dimensions of the oval are unique to the ground. The Cats have only lost four of their last 37 games at home, with Sydney and GWS the only two teams managing to topple them there in that period, so the Hawks are up against it.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 10 points.

BRISBANE v FREMANTLE (Gabba, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
Both of these teams are coming off losses in round one, but the Lions would be more disappointed with their showing given the injury-ravaged Dockers almost came from nowhere to pinch a victory from the jaws of defeat against Essendon. Brisbane has had three months to stew over its poor performance at the MCG and you can expect it to come out firing in its first appearance at home for 2020. At the time of this story being published, the Lions were still a chance to receive the added bonus of a handful of fans attending the game which would no doubt be a nice boost. Chris Fagan’s men will be desperate to get off the mark this season and all signs point towards a comfortable victory for them.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 26 points.

CARLTON v MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
It might only be round two, but given it’s a 17-game season, this match is already a huge one for both clubs. Melbourne and Carlton are 0-1 and pressure will begin to mount on the loser significantly given how badly both sides want to improve this season on the back of horrible 2019 campaigns. Another heart-warming story is attached to this contest, with Harley Bennell a confirmed starter for Melbourne after debilitating calf injuries restricted the former Sun and Docker to just two games in the previous four seasons. Charlie Curnow (knee), Caleb Marchbank (knee) and Matthew Kreuzer (foot) are big losses for Carlton, which has lost 13 of its last 16 games at the Docklands venue, while Zac Fisher (ankle) is no guarantee either. The Dees have few injury concerns so there will be no excuses for them if they can’t get the job done. Expect Max Gawn to run rampant, too.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 32 points

GOLD COAST v WEST COAST (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7.40pm local time)
It was hard to find, but here’s a positive for the Suns – they have won and drawn their last two games against West Coast at Metricon Stadium. Cue the famous Lloyd Christmas line: “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” Well, yeah, technically there is, but it’s still not looking very good for Gold Coast in this one, even if it will be boosted by a host of key players back from injury. The Eagles are flag contenders for a reason. After a disappointing end to last season, the 2018 premiers looked like men on a mission against Melbourne in round one with their big guns all playing key roles in the 27-point victory. Expect the Eagles to kick off hub life with a comfortable win.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 41 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 48 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v ADELAIDE (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.10pm local time)
It will be very nice to see yet another of the AFL’s great rivalries rekindled this weekend as South Australia’s mortal enemies lock horns in Showdown 48. And half their luck, some 2000 fans will be permitted in Adelaide Oval for the clash. The teams had contrasting starts to the year, with Adelaide losing to Sydney in disappointing fashion and Port Adelaide thumping Gold Coast. Given both sides have few injury concerns, it’s hard to envisage the struggling Crows, whose post-2017 grand final off-field woes have continued unabated this year, avoiding defeat – a result which would square the ledger between the two sides at 24-24.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 16 points.

GWS v NORTH MELBOURNE (Giants Stadium, Sunday 1.05pm local time)
The Kangaroos showed enormous heart to fight back from five goals down in round one to beat the Saints, but GWS up at Giants Stadium is a totally different kettle of fish. Leon Cameron’s men looked like a well-oiled machine against Geelong in round one and beating the Giants on their home turf will prove to be one of the toughest tasks of 2020. However, North did show last year with big wins over Richmond, Collingwood and the Bulldogs that on their day, the Roos can mix it with the competition’s elite. GWS could very well welcome back Callan Ward after a year out due to an ACL injury, while Zac Williams should also return. This is the first time in five years that these two sides have met in the Harbour City, and the Giants will mark the occasion with a victory against a North side down on quite a few key players.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 35 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 30 points.

SYDNEY v ESSENDON (SCG, Sunday 3.35pm local time)
Whenever these two sides meet, anything can happen – and often does! The last 25 years have produced a host of classic encounters between the Swans and Dons with a large portion of them decided either right at the death or after the siren. After looking like it might head into this match without its top four goalkickers from last year, it’s sounding more and more likely that Jake Stringer and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will line up for Essendon. Captain Dyson Heppell (foot), Cale Hooker (hip), Patrick Ambrose (knee) and Mason Redman (hip) are also big chances to take their place in the side. With Lance Franklin (hamstring) and Sam Reid (calf) both missing, Sydney would love Ben Ronke (knee) to play to add some goalkicking potency to the line-up. However, luckless Swans ruckman Sam Naismith (hamstring) is in doubt. The SCG is no longer the fortress it once was, with Sydney losing 13 games there in the past two years. It promises to go down to the wire, but Essendon have a huge chance to pinch a road win and improve to 2-0.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 4 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 8 points.

ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 6.05pm local time)
Like Carlton-Melbourne, this game is a fascinating one. Both teams are feeling the pinch after terribly disappointing performances in round one and will be keen to avoid an 0-2 scoreline with just 15 games remaining in the season. The good news for both teams is that they’re basically at full strength. A lot was expected of the Bulldogs this season and they appeared to be a side believing their own hype when they got smashed by Collingwood in the opening round. They’ve had a long time to stew over that performance and Luke Beveridge would undoubtedly have reminded them frequently in case they happened to forget about it. The Dogs will be out to make a statement about their top-four bona fides.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 33 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 24 points.