Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli celebrates a goal during the Dogs’ last meeting with Carlton. Photo: AFL MEDIA

WESTERN BULLDOGS v CARLTON (Marvel Stadium, Thursday 7.20pm local time)
To say it’s been an eventful start to 2022 for Carlton would be an understatement. First, the Blues finally snapped their 11-game losing streak to Richmond by winning their first Round 1 game in a decade. But just as everything seemed nice and rosy, they lost new coach Michael Voss as well as star duo Adam Cerra and Jack Martin to COVID protocols for their highly-anticipated Round 2 opener against the Bulldogs. Former West Coast premiership player Ash Hansen, who used to coach the Footscray VFL team, will take the reins this week and will no doubt provide some decent insights for his new club regarding its next opponent. But in a boost for the Blues, star midfielder Sam Walsh will almost certainly return after making a miraculous recovery from a syndesmosis injury. The Dogs are without Bailey Smith (ankle) for the first time since his senior debut in Round 1 2019. Inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli (ankle) is also under a slight injury cloud, but it would be surprising to see him miss, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been elevated to the starting 18 from the medical sub bench. It’s been an eventful week down at Whitten Oval too – after losing their grand final rematch to Melbourne in the season opener, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge lost his cool (to say the least) in one of the most extraordinary dressing downs of a journalist by a coach in a post-match press conference yet. How much of a distraction that proves this week remains to be seen. The Blues have a very good recent record against the Dogs, winning two of their last four encounters and cracking 100 points in three of those meetings – something they’ve only done seven times in five seasons. However, after the week the Dogs have had, it would be surprising to see the premiership contenders fail to bounce back.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 6 points.

SYDNEY v GEELONG (SCG, Friday 7.50pm local time)
After a quiet game from Lance Franklin last week, for the second week in a row Sydney fans have the chance to see their superstar forward join some of the greatest goalkickers of all time by kicking 1000 career goals. But it won’t be a guarantee. After Phil Davis blanketed him magnificently last week, restricting him to just one goal, big ‘Buddy’ now needs four majors to crack four figures. And if Franklin thought last week was tough, he will almost certainly be manned by triple All-Australian Tom Stewart this week, with Jack Henry and Mark Blicavs in tow. Franklin did kick four goals five times last year, but you’d think he would be more likely to achieve his milestone in Round 3 against the Western Bulldogs. As for the game itself, it promises to be an absolute beauty with two of the best-performed teams of Round 1 going head-to-head. The Cats might lose Jeremy Cameron (hip), but could regain key quartet Mitch Duncan, Jed Bews, Sam Menegola (knee) and Mark O’Connor (knee). Meanwhile, the Swans are confident Jake Lloyd and Chad Warner will be available after exiting COVID protocols. This is a proverbial coin flip game.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 4 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 12 points.

COLLINGWOOD v ADELAIDE (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
A contest between two sides clearly in rebuild mode, but based on their first-up performances, this could easily be one of the more entertaining clashes of the weekend. The Magpies came out on top with a minor upset win over the Saints in a seesawing encounter, while the Crows fell agonisingly short by a point to Fremantle in another game full of dramatic momentum swings. And both teams have an array of exciting young talent to showcase – most notably their debutants from last week, Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Josh Rachele (Adelaide). The two top-six picks from last year have already strongly suggested after one game that they have very long and decorated careers ahead of themselves. Mason Cox (ankle) is in doubt for the Magpies, who will have Will Hoskin-Elliott (COVID) and Nathan Kreuger (suspension) available. Adelaide is hoping to regain Rory Laird (hand), Lachlan Murphy (neck) and Shane McAdam (adductor). The Pies have clearly undergone a change in their game style under new coach Craig McRae, with a heavy emphasis on centre corridor use. After serving them so well last week, it’s hard to see why it won’t be effective again this week against one of the weaker teams in the league.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 14 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 20 points.

ESSENDON v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
The less said about last week for the Bombers, the better. Far and away the most disappointing team of the first round, Essendon was non-competitive against a Geelong side many tipped to fall off the perch this year. Instead, the wily old Cats taught the Bombers, and specifically their midfield, a football lesson by absolutely smashing them in every key statistical category. It was a sobering experience for Essendon’s on-ball brigade which appeared to believe its own hype over the summer after being lauded as one of the strongest midfields in the league. If an 11-goal drubbing (which should have been a bigger margin) doesn’t elicit a reaction out of them this week, then they might as well find something else to do. The loss of Kyle Langford to a long-term hamstring injury added further salt to their wound, but Jayden Laverde (hip) might line up. The possible return of match winner Jake Stringer (groin) would also be a boost, but even if the likes of Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Dylan Shiel do put in a much improved showing this week, it’s going to be a tough ask for the Dons to topple the Brisbane Lions who are fresh from an impressive comeback win against fellow flag fancy Port Adelaide.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 26 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v HAWTHORN (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.10pm local time)
The Hawks might’ve got their season off to a positive start with a hard-fought win over wooden spooner North Melbourne, but they’re in for a much tougher challenge this week in coach Sam Mitchell’s second game in charge. The Power at Adelaide Oval after blowing a four-goal lead at the Gabba against Brisbane would prove to be a stern test for any team in the AFL, let alone a side not expected to figure in the finals this year. Port Adelaide is chasing three wins in a row against Hawthorn for the first time in 16 years, and should do it comfortably.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 16 points.

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GOLD COAST v MELBOURNE (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7.00pm local time)
The Suns finally got the monkey off the back last week by recording their first ever win at Optus Stadium, and just their second win in Perth from 16 attempts. But it must be said their 27-point win did come against a virtual WAFL team, with the decimated Eagles actually putting up a decent fight up until the final quarter. This week, like the Hawks, Gold Coast faces a much more daunting obstacle in the form of reigning premier Melbourne. The Demons were brilliant last week in the way they absorbed the Bulldogs’ best punches and still came back to record an ultimately comfortable win. Simon Goodwin’s men look like the team to beat again in 2022 and with defenders Jake Lever (foot), Michael Hibberd (calf) and Trent Rivers (knee) all a chance to return, it would be a timely boost for them down back with Christian Salem (knee) injured.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 36 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
This looms as a really tough game to tip. In one corner we’ve got the reigning wooden spooner, who looked promising in big parts of their Round 1 game against Hawthorn, and in the other, we have a West Coast side ravaged by injuries. The Eagles hope to regain Luke Shuey (hamstring), Jack Darling (foot), Liam Duggan (knee) and Luke Edwards (groin) this week, but their unavailable list is still lengthy. Ben McKay (concussion) is a big loss for North who hope to recall Josh Walker (COVID) and Jared Polec (ankle). The Eagles were commendable last week before eventually succumbing to Gold Coast, and while the Kangaroos are hardly a sure thing in any situation given the phase of development they currently find themselves in, this match presents what could be a rare opportunity for a victory for them this season.
RONNY’S TIP: North Melbourne by 3 points.
ROCO’S TIP: North Melbourne by 2 points.

RICHMOND v GWS (MCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
This writer has to admit that he is already feeling a little unsure about his pre-season prediction of the Tigers returning to the finals. In the last quarter against Carlton last week, they looked old, tired and out of answers as the fresher and younger Blues ran rampant. Worryingly for Richmond, it looked a lot like the side that produced similar performances in the second half of last year. If nothing much has changed from then to now, then the Tigers are no hope of making the finals. Compounding things for Damien Hardwick’s side are injuries to key duo Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Jack Riewoldt (thumb), but Kamdyn McIntosh (calf) is a chance of returning. The Giants were involved in probably the match of the round against Sydney, but after a seesawing first three quarters, ultimately got run over in the final term. GWS hope to select Nick Haynes (stomach) and Jesse Hogan (soreness) and don’t be surprised if they ensure a 0-2 start for the Tigers.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 8 points.

FREMANTLE v ST KILDA (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
The Dockers got out of jail last week thanks to some brilliant defending from Heath Chapman on the last line in the dying seconds, and with Sean Darcy (calf), Nathan Wilson (shoulder) and Nat Fyfe (back) all potentially returning this week, they’re well placed to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2015 when they last made the finals. The injury-hit Saints were left reeling last week after being shown up by upstart Collingwood, a loss made more frustrating considering they fought back from six goals down to hit the front in the final quarter. And unfortunately for St Kilda, it doesn’t look like it will get any reinforcements back for its trip across the Nullarbor.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 32 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 7
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 5