Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli gets a handball away with Richmond’s Jack Graham in hot pursuit. Photo: AFL MEDIA

WESTERN BULLDOGS v RICHMOND (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:50pm local time)
As is the case with most matches this weekend, the stakes are huge in the round opener between the Bulldogs and Tigers who are eighth and 11th on the ladder respectively, separated by just two points. The winner will give its finals hopes a huge boost, while the loser will have no margin for error as it will probably need to win its last three matches to qualify. And ahead of such a crucial match, both teams have been ravaged by personnel issues. The Dogs backline continues to cop the hits with Alex Keath (concussion), Josh Bruce (knee) and Ryan Gardner (soreness) all unavailable, but at least this week they get to stabilise that part of the ground with Liam Jones and Ed Richards returning. Meanwhile, the Tigers will be without superstar Dustin Martin (soreness), who has sensationally turned the clock back in recent weeks, as well as former captain Trent Cotchin (managed). But it’s not all bad news for Richmond with Toby Nankervis and Jayden Short returning. Since being 9-6, the Dogs have fallen in a hole, losing three of their last four matches, and they would’ve been downright filthy last week at the way they coughed up a six-goal lead to GWS. Richmond has been rejuvenated under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter, winning six of their last eight matches, but those two losses in that period against top-four teams Brisbane and Melbourne displayed that it is still off the pace of the premiership contenders. The Bulldogs have been patchy in the past month, but you can expect a serious response to last week’s debacle in Ballarat.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 5 points.

ESSENDON v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm local time)
The Bombers were flying high a mere three weeks ago when they found themselves in fifth spot with a 9-7 record, but since then have lost three games in a row, to drop to 13th on the ladder. It will now take a mighty effort for them to feature in the finals this year as they will almost certainly have to win their final four games. The good news for them is that they take on easybeat West Coast this week in a match which should not only get their season back on course but, if they’re ruthless enough, serve as a golden opportunity to make up some of the nine per cent they’ve lost since their last win in Round 17.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Essendon by 45 points.

ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1:40pm local time)
Like Essendon, both of these teams have 9-10 records, which means they will more than likely have to win their last four games to qualify for the top eight. That means that this clash is a virtual elimination final. The winner will stay alive in the finals race, while the loser can kiss its September dream goodbye. And although both teams head into this clash on the back of convincing wins over top-four sides, the Suns are up against it without inspirational captain Touk Miller, who was suspended. It is true that Gold Coast performed admirably this year when Miller was out for an extended period due to a knee injury, winning five of nine matches, including the scalp of the very team they’re facing this week, but it’s a much different scenario this time around. The game isn’t being played in humid, greasy conditions in tropical Darwin – the Suns will have to get the job done at Adelaide Oval, where the Crows have registered eight of their nine wins this year. With spearhead Taylor Walker in career-best form, Adelaide should be too good.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 29 points.

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Saturday 4:35pm local time)
The Magpies suffered a rare stumble last week against Carlton, losing to their arch nemesis by three goals in a huge upset, but as dominant as the Blues were, funnily enough, Collingwood still created enough chances to win the game. The Pies were uncharacteristically inaccurate in front of goal, and it would be very surprising to see them produce a similar goalkicking display for a second week running. With Ash Johnson and Brad Hill back in the line-up to help straighten them up, the ladder-leading premiership favourites should have few issues brushing aside the bottom-three Hawks.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 35 points.

GEELONG v PORT ADELAIDE (Kardinia Park, Saturday 7:25pm local time)
For weeks and weeks, the footy world has held its breath waiting for the Geelong juggernaut to finally click on a consistent basis and show why it won the premiership last year. Well, that scenario has not played out yet, despite coach Chris Scott’s regular assurances, and suddenly the moment of truth has arrived for the Cats with four matches to play. To make the finals, they will probably have to win three more games, and with engagements against top-two Port Adelaide and Collingwood in the next two weeks, that means they will have to emerge from that period 1-1 at a minimum. It makes Saturday night’s match a monstrous occasion for Geelong. But similarly, it’s a significant match for the faltering Power who have now lost three matches on the trot, after winning 13 in a row, and find themselves at risk of missing out on a home final first up. Compounding things for Ken Hinkey’s men are the losses of Aliir Aliir (concussion) and Lachie Jones (concussion), although they do regain Tom Jonas and Willie Rioli. But Geelong is also in the wars without key duo Tom Hawkins (hamstring) and Mark Blicavs (hamstring). The Cats were rocked by a shock loss at home to Fremantle last week, but they have not lost back-to-back matches at Kardinia Park in eight years. With Hawkins and Aliir both out, expect Jeremy Cameron to have a huge say on proceedings.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 3 points.

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GWS v SYDNEY (Giants Stadium, Saturday 7:30pm local time)
The Swans are another team enjoying a late-season revival, losing just one of their last six games to rocket up to 10th and just two points outside the top eight. But, like the Cats, they can only probably afford one more loss in their quest for a finals berth, making the 26th Sydney derby a white-knuckle affair for them. Speaking of resurgences, how about their upcoming opponents? The Giants’ turnaround has been quite exceptional, with a club-record seven consecutive wins lifting them out of the bottom four all the way up to sixth on the ladder. First-year coach Adam Kingsley has them playing inspired footy, while superstar match winner Toby Greene keeps doing his thing. GWS is further bolstered by the returns of Tom Green and Jesse Hogan, while Sydney will be without Dane Rampe (calf), Justin McInerney (calf) and the legendary Lance Franklin who announced his retirement after injuring his calf against Essendon last week. The Giants will be hard to stop at home.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 12 points
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 13 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v MELBOURNE (Blundstone Arena, Sunday 1:10pm local time)
A disastrous season for the Kangaroos hit rock bottom last week when they lost to the hapless Eagles by five points. It doesn’t get much more humiliating than that. North Melbourne’s losing streak has now extended to 17 matches – its longest in 51 years – and it’s hard to see how it won’t stretch to 18 on Sunday afternoon. Senior coach Alastair Clarkson makes his long-awaited return after a 10-game absence, but that will do little to change the result against a Melbourne side that looks be timing its run perfectly ahead of another premiership assault. The Demons are looking as potent in attack as they’ve looked all season, while Max Gawn is back to his brilliant best as the team’s sole ruckman. North fans are in for some more pain, unfortunately.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 52 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 51 points.

ST KILDA v CARLTON (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3:20pm local time)
This is arguably the match of the round. The fifth-placed Saints up against the seventh-ranked Blues with just two points separating the two teams. And the reward on offer for the winner is massive, with victory all but guaranteeing a finals spot. The loser won’t exactly be dealt a hammer blow, but will more than likely have to win two of its last three matches to finish in the top eight. The Blues have been magnificent, winning six games in a row for the first time since 2000, including the prized scalps of Collingwood and Port Adelaide, to zoom up the ladder from the bottom four. But their injury list continues to grow with Adam Cerra (hamstring) and Mitch McGovern (hamstring) joining Sam Walsh (hamstring), Harry McKay (knee), Matthew Kennedy (knee), Jack Silvagni (knee) and Zac Williams (knee) on the sidelines. Conversely, the Saints are finally starting to catch a break in the medical room, and although they lose Zak Jones (knee), they have added Brad Hill, Max King, Tim Membrey and Jack Hayes to their extended squad. However, the Blues are playing with such incredible self-belief, it’s hard to go past them.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 5 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 2:40pm local time)
The Dockers’ sensational win over the Cats in Geelong last week fittingly capped off a frustrating season for the men in purple. Cries of, ‘Where has that been all year?’ could be heard bellowing out from Fremantle homes all around the country. What might have been for Freo in 2023. Instead, they find themselves languishing in the bottom four, needing a miracle to make the finals. But despite their impressive performance last week, and the fact that Brennan Cox has been added to their squad, it’s still hard to take the Dockers seriously. After all, they’ve only won four of nine matches at home this year. The Lions blew a golden chance last week to jump up to second spot, as they were humbled by ‘little brother’ Gold Coast by seven goals. However, they still have plenty to play for, and could still take overtake the Power if they lose to the Cats. Oscar McInerney (ankle) and Keidean Coleman (face) are huge losses, but with Zac Bailey back in the line-up, it would be surprising to see Brisbane drop this one.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 17 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 114
ROCO 114
ROCKET 106