Sydney’s Isaac Heeney and Bomber Kyle Langford battle for possession in the Swans’ round four victory. Photo: AAP

ST KILDA v CARLTON (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
Season 2021 might have provided yet another false dawn for the Blues, but at least their fans will elicit some genuine excitement from this week’s match with Charlie Curnow finally making his long-awaited return to the big time after more than two years on the sidelines due to a raft of knee injuries and operations. And in an added boost, he will team up with Harry McKay, who returns from a toe injury. These two players have long been heralded as the saviours of Carlton’s forward line, and indeed the team as a whole, so it promises to be a big night for the Blues faithful to see both on the park together after such a long time. But that’s probably where the enjoyment will end for Carlton, because it’s up against a St Kilda outfit still in the finals race and bolstered by some incredibly handy ins as well – Rowan Marshall, Tom Highmore, Jack Higgins and Hunter Clark. The Marshall-Ryder ruck combo alone, up against the promising, but inexperienced Tom De Koning, as well as Jack Silvagni, will be enough to tilt the contest in the Saints’ favour.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 30 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v ADELAIDE (Mars Stadium, Saturday 12.20pm local time)
The Bulldogs have suffered a huge blow in defence with key backman Alex Keath (hamstring) ruled out for the remainder of the home-and-away season, but luckily they don’t have the most challenging run into the finals and, while not a like-for-like replacement, getting former skipper Easton Wood back from hamstring and ankle injuries for the first time in nearly three months is timely to say the least. Not to mention the fact that they get to just slot Josh Dunkley back into their midfield, which is already bulging with A-grade talent. In Adelaide’s favour, despite sitting in the bottom four with just six wins to its credit, it has conquered premiership contenders Geelong and Melbourne this year, so it will give itself a chance of completing a hat-trick of wins against heavyweights … but not many other people will.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 36 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v GEELONG (Blundstone Arena, Saturday 1.15pm local time)
The Kangaroos have certainly turned the corner and are finishing the season with a wet sail. They might still be on the bottom of the ladder, but it’s just by percentage now and after only managing one win from their opening 13 games, they’ve tasted victory three times in their past five matches. And as a bonus, they head back down to Tasmania, where they’ve done their best work this year, securing 10 of a possible 20 premiership points. There’s no doubt David Noble’s team is a harder nut to crack on the Apple Isle, and this game serves as just the second trip to the state in Geelong’s history. However, what little hope the Roos had of producing a mammoth upset was dashed with the losses of Ben Cunnington (testicular tumour) and Tarryn Thomas (concussion), who were both instrumental in their thumping win over Carlton last week. The Cats are too talented, experienced and well-drilled for North, and have far too much to play for in attempting to batten down a top-two spot.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.

GOLD COAST v MELBOURNE (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 3.10pm local time)
Some big statements have been made at the selection table in this one. Michael Hibberd, once regarded as one of the best lockdown players in the competition this season, has paid the price for Melbourne’s loss to the Bulldogs last week, and finds himself omitted from the team, along with promising youngster James Jordon. And the Suns have lost patience with precocious, but underdelivering forward Izak Rankine, dropping him from the side along with Rory Atkins, who must be rapt that he signed a four-year deal, because there would be every chance he would be delisted at the end of this year if not. As for the game itself, the Suns have shown more fight recently (second half against Brisbane aside), and the Demons have consistently shown that they struggle to negotiate match-ups with teams outside the top eight. Their offensive frailties have been laid bare recently, too, with an average of just 69 points per game in their past six matches. But it would take a brave person to tip against Melbourne, which has dropped to third and now needs to focus on just finishing in the top four after occupying top spot on the ladder longer than any other side this year (10 weeks).
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 36 points.

COLLINGWOOD v WEST COAST (MCG, Saturday 4.15pm local time)
The Magpies might be in the bottom three, but if their inclusions are anything to go by, they don’t intend on phoning in the final four games of the year. Jeremy Howe, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Chris Mayne and Josh Thomas all return this week, although they do lose Scott Pendlebury (broken leg). Howe will play his first game since injuring his hamstring in round five, coincidentally also against the Eagles. West Coast also loses a prime mover in Liam Ryan (hamstring), but does recall Jack Redden and Jack Petruccelle. West Coast has probably done enough to secure a finals berth this year, but still has a lot to prove, especially on the road. Three years ago, Adam Simpson’s side was fearless when it travelled outside WA on the way to a memorable premiership, but it’s an unrecognisable outfit to the one that swept aside all before it in 2018. The Eagles have won just two games out of six on the road against teams with a legitimate home ground advantage this year – and those wins came against bottom-four sides Adelaide and Hawthorn. Collingwood is another such team, so on the face of it, the Eagles should be too good. However, this game marks an absolutely crucial, and necessary, stepping stone for the remainder of the year for West Coast if it wants to pinch an unlikely flag, because there’s every chance it won’t be playing any finals in Perth (COVID restrictions allowing).
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 12 points.

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ESSENDON v SYDNEY (Gabba, Saturday 7.40pm local time)
Whenever these two sides meet, thrills and spills are almost always guaranteed. Five of their last seven meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, with the average margin of their last four encounters just six points. And this meeting has the added element of plenty being on the line for both sides. The Swans are aiming to stay in touch with the top four, while the Bombers are out to redeem themselves after blowing a golden chance to take a firm grip on eighth spot last week against GWS. Sydney welcomes back key duo Callum Mills and Harry Cunningham, while Essendon has dropped a bombshell by omitting its leading goalkicker Cale Hooker with just four rounds to go and the veteran swing man fighting for his career (the writing would appear to be on the wall for him regarding season 2022). Kyle Langford and Aaron Francis return for the Dons. The Swans have hit peak form at the right time of the season, and buoyed by the availability of Lance Franklin, who had his one-game suspension overturned by the tribunal on Tuesday and loves playing Essendon more than any other team, they look to be too strong for the Bombers.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 10 points.

HAWTHORN v BRISBANE (Launceston, Sunday 2.10pm local time)
It’s been a forgettable year for the Hawks, so much so that they can’t even hang their hats on hosting a team at their once-impenetrable Tasmanian fortress. A far cry from the days when they had won 19 games in a row in Launceston over a five-year period, Hawthorn has won just one game there from four attempts in 2021, and that record doesn’t look like it will do much improving this week when it faces top-four aspirant Brisbane. The Lions cannot afford anymore slip-ups between now and the end of the season, otherwise their dreams of a double chance will likely go up in smoke. Granted, they haven’t looked their usual ruthless selves for the majority of the past three weeks, but their dominant second half against Gold Coast might end up being the spark that reignites their season, and if they carry that form into this week, the Hawks stand no chance.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 25 points.

GWS v PORT ADELAIDE (Metricon Stadium, Sunday 3.10pm local time)
The game of musical chairs that has become the battle for eighth spot continued last week with the music stopping, and the Giants finding themselves on the inside running for a finals berth. It’s the fifth round in a row where eighth spot has changed hands. It begs the question, does any team from the chasing pack want to play finals? Well, we’ll find out how badly the topsy-turvy Giants want to this week when they take on the Power. Greater Western Sydney’s recent formline would have to be the most bizarre in the AFL. Wins against Melbourne, Essendon and Carlton have been accompanied by losses to Hawthorn, Gold Coast and Sydney (after leading by six goals) as well as a draw with North Melbourne. The stock market is more predictable than GWS, which welcomes back Toby Greene this week with open arms after the superstar completed his quarantine period. Port Adelaide is going about its business in a very mature way, taking care of the teams it should take care of on a regular basis. Ken Hinkley’s side is now 13-2 against sides ranked below it, and with the task of hanging on to a top-four spot front of mind, Brisbane and Sydney nipping at its heels, it’s a far more bankable proposition than the Giants. The possible return of Orazio Fantasia would be a nice boost too.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 2 points.

FREMANTLE v RICHMOND (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3.10pm local time)
Speaking of the finals race, this looms as an absolutely crucial contest on that front. The Tigers (10th) and Dockers (11th) are both on 32 points, separated only by percentage. The loser can just about kiss its September dream goodbye. But in fairness, this contest looks more like the battle of the walking wounded than a chance for the victor to enhances its finals hopes. In one corner we have Fremantle, without Nat Fyfe (shoulder), Rory Lobb (ankle), Alex Pearce (concussion), Michael Walters (hamstring), Joel Hamling (ankle), Sam Switkowski (hamstring), Sam Sturt (knee), Brennan Cox (hamstring), Michael Frederick (ankle) and Stephen Hill (hamstring). In the other, Richmond minus Dustin Martin (kidney), Bachar Houli (ankle), Noah Balta (ankle), Nick Vlastuin (knee/quad), Nathan Broad (ankle), Marion Pickett (managed), Kamdyn McIntosh (hamstring) and Ivan Soldo (knee). That is a lot of firepower missing from both sides. This promises to be a war of attrition decided by sheer guts and determination.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 14 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 101
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 106