Melbourne star Clayton Oliver tackles Bulldogs defender Nick Coffield in Round 1 at the MCG. Photo: AFL MEDIA

WESTERN BULLDOGS v MELBOURNE (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:15pm)
In what is perhaps the most fitting testament to one of the craziest seasons in VFL/AFL history, the team that is eighth on the ladder with four rounds to go is one of the in-form sides in the competition and is being viewed as a legitimate premiership threat. That team, of course, is none other than the enigmatic Western Bulldogs. The Doggies have got their house in order in spectacular style and at precisely the right time of the year. In the last three weeks, they have taken down fellow flag threats Geelong in Geelong, Carlton and Sydney in Sydney in what has been one of the most sensational runs of form by any club in 2024. Don’t forget they also smashed top-three Fremantle in Round 14. Overall they’ve won eight of their last 11 games to channel that unique 2016 and 2021 energy. Aside from its heavy loss to Fremantle a fortnight ago, Melbourne’s past month has been pretty good, but on the fast deck at Marvel Stadium against one of the hottest sides going around, it’s going to find it very hard to come out on top, and it could spell the end for its finals hopes.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 21 points.

WEST COAST v GOLD COAST (Optus Stadium, Friday 6:30pm)
Just a week after suffering their first loss at home for the season, can the Suns “get one back” immediately by snapping their 16-game losing streak on the road? It’s been 15 months since Gold Coast won a game away from either Carrara or Darwin, but in a positive omen for Damien Hardwick’s men, their last such win came against this very opponent at this very ground way back in Round 9 last year. Will lightning strike twice? Well, it has to if the Suns want to keep their faint finals hopes alive. And, really, they should be good enough to get the job done against a West Coast outfit that has lost its last nine games by an average of 43 points.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 17 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:45pm)
It’s the ‘mockbuster’ of the season as the Kangaroos and Tigers battle each other in a contest that will likely decide this year’s wooden spooner. North is aiming to avoid a third kitchen utensil in the space of four seasons, while Richmond is on track to “win” its first one since 2007. The Kangas welcome back young gun Colby McKercher, but lose key duo George Wardlaw, again to concussion worryingly, as well as Griffin Logue (wrist) who only just returned to the line-up from a long ACL layoff a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Tigers welcome back a very handy trio, indeed, of Dustin Martin, Toby Nankervis and Jack Graham. The inclusion of Nankervis will be particularly crucial as he will provide a perfect adversary for in-form North ruckman Tristan Xerri who is enjoying a breakout year. North’s recent competitive streak has started to wane, with a pair of comprehensive losses to Sydney and Geelong in their last three games. The Tigers haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire, losing their last six games by an average of seven goals, but with some strong inclusions, they’ve got a decent chance to pinch a rare victory.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: North Melbourne by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: North Melbourne by 19 points.

GEELONG v ADELAIDE (Kardinia Park, Saturday 4:35pm)
Just one round after pulling off one of the great heists of 2024 against Essendon, regular transmission resumed for the Crows last week with an insipid performance at home against Hawthorn. And it doesn’t get much easier for out-of-contention Adelaide this week with a trip to the Cattery. Granted, the Crows have named some very good ins in the form of captain Jordan Dawson, Nick Murray, Matt Crouch and Josh Worrell, but Geelong is playing for a top-four spot while bottom-four Adelaide is playing for pride. It should be a regulation day out for Chris Scott’s side.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 35 points.

COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON (MCG, Saturday 7:30pm)
Milestones don’t get much bigger than playing 400 VFL/AFL games. Only five men have achieved the feat in 128 years, and Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury becomes player No.6 to join this most illustrious and exclusive group on Saturday night. And fittingly, he runs out for the 400th time against the old enemy Carlton in what promises to be a memorable night. The Pies’ faint finals hopes are still alive, and they’d love nothing more than to give their September ambitions a shot in the arm against the Blues and celebrate their former captain’s big night in fine style. With Jordan De Goey and Beau McCreery back in the team, their chances undoubtedly increase. But while the Blues have hit the skids at the wrong time of the year, with three losses from their past four games putting their top-four hopes in jeopardy, they too get boosted by some big inclusions in Harry McKay, Blake Acres, Jordan Boyd and Jack Martin. Sadly for Pendlebury, as Dustin Martin found out earlier this year in his 300th game, the fairytale script doesn’t always occur in big individual milestone matches.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 14 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 11 points.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

PORT ADELAIDE v SYDNEY (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7pm)
After losing three games in a row, the Power have got their season back on track with four wins out of their last five games, and no victory was bigger than their sensational comeback against Carlton in Melbourne last week. But if Port Adelaide really wants to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with, a triumph over the ladder-leading Swans would certainly go a long way. However, Sydney is not the same team that has dominated proceedings for most of the season. It has dramatically fallen in a heap to lose four of its last five games. Its energy just doesn’t seem to be there anymore and the Bulldogs made them pay last week by relentlessly outworking them and running harder all day. It’s been a very concerning stretch for the one-time outright flag favourite. It would be surprising if the Swans failed to snap out of their funk at some stage, and if they’re ever going to do it, beating the Power in Adelaide would be a fair statement to make.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 19 points.

GWS v HAWTHORN (Manuka Oval, Sunday 1:10pm)
This is just about the match of the round. In one corner we’ve got the rejuvenated Giants, who have won their last four games to rocket back into top-four calculations, and in the other we have the upstart Hawks who have won 10 of their last 12 matches to storm into the finals frame. Hawthorn might be ninth on the ladder, but is arguably the hottest team in the league at the moment. It is extraordinary what the Hawks are achieving, and the footy that coach Sam Mitchell has got them playing is simply irresistible. Their confidence is sky high and the brash youngsters firmly believe they can beat anybody. That notion will be put to the test this weekend when they face the Giants in Canberra. GWS should probably be good enough to put the brakes on the Hawks, but it’s not going to be easy.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 3 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 15 points.

ESSENDON v FREMANTLE (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm)
Put a fork in the Bombers. They’re done. Again. It’s quite remarkable how eerily similar season 2024 is playing out for Essendon compared to 2023. Last year, it was sitting fifth after Round 17 before capitulating to miss the finals. This year, after being fourth in Round 17, the bottom has fallen out from underneath the Dons again and they now find themselves outside the top eight with four rounds to go. This team simply cannot deal with pressure or expectations. And they must now face the incredibly impressive Dockers who sit third on ladder, having lost just two of their last 10 games, to try and keep their spluttering finals bid alive. It has been 25 years since the Dockers have played the Essendon at the MCG, and the purple haze is going to make up for lost time by hammering another nail into the Bombers coffin for season 2024.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 23 points.

ST KILDA v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4:40pm)
All of a sudden, this game doesn’t look as easy as it once did for the Lions. St Kilda has sneakily become one of the form teams in the league, winning three of its last four games, including the prized scalp of Sydney, to become somewhat of a finals wrecking ball in the latter part of the season (didn’t the Bombers find that out the hard way last week?). St Kilda has always been known for its defensive capabilities under Ross Lyon, but crucially its three biggest scores of the year have come in the last six weeks. Put simply, they’ve worked out how to get a good balance in their game. But Brisbane is no ordinary opponent. It has now won eight games in a row for the first time in four years to lift itself from 13th to second and equal premiership favouritism. Can the Saints take out a second flag favourite in the space of a month? It’s going to be a big ask, especially with star defender Harris Andrews back for Brisbane.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 21 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCKET 106
RONNY 105
ROCO 103

*all times are local