Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos looks set to have a big say on proceedings against Hawthorn on Thursday night. Photos: AFL MEDIA

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Thursday 7:30pm)
The standout match of the round, and fortunately for free-to-air viewers, it’s taking place in prime time. Although, after last week’s Bulldogs-GWS anticlimax, perhaps chickens shouldn’t be counted just yet. This really should be a cracking contest, though. It’s got to the stage for the Hawks where they’re fighting for their finals survival while the former premiership favourite Magpies are no guarantees for top four anymore after experiencing a dramatic dip in form that has seen them lose three of their last four games and give up top spot on the ladder for the first time since Round 10. Hawthorn has suffered a hammer blow with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for the year with another serious foot injury, and the important Harry Morrison (quad) makes way too. However, their replacements aren’t too shabby, in Luke Breust, who hasn’t played since Round 9, and Changkuoth Jiath. Collingwood’s midfield got beaten up badly by another premiership contender in Brisbane last week, which is why it’s interesting to see the Magpies have decided to play Tom Mitchell and Ned Long in the same team this week. They looked very vulnerable down back as well, so the returns of Jeremy Howe and Billy Frampton are crucial, but the loss of Bobby Hill (illness) again is significant. The Hawks were far from disgraced last week against new competition pacesetter Adelaide, especially in that blistering first quarter. They hit the front midway through the final term of the titanic arm wrestle as well. Their win-loss record with Day (5-1) compared to when he’s out of the team (8-6) is stark, but importantly the they are above 50 per cent either way, and with a lot more to play for, they’re a huge chance of extending Collingwood’s form slump.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 7 points.

GEELONG v ESSENDON (Kardinia Park, Friday 7:40pm)
Sadly for footy lovers, that’s probably where all the excitement ends for the weekend. Most of the final eight games look like they’re going to be lopsided affairs, and none seem to fit that description more than Friday night’s mismatch between the Cats and Bombers. It’s hard to recall a team paying more than $20 in head-to-head betting, but that’s where Essendon finds itself in what could be a record-breaking night. The decimated Bombers admirably put up a decent fight against the Swans in Sydney last week, but their injury list remains gigantic, and against a team that is looking every bit a top-four side this year, that is a recipe for disaster. No team has the wood over an opponent like Geelong does with Essendon. The Cats have won 21 of their last 24 meetings in an extended period of dominance that spans two decades. Geelong routinely pummels the Bombers at the best of times, let alone when they field a glorified VFL team as they will this week. Make no mistake, various records are in jeopardy this week. Jeremy Cameron (75 goals) should get a nice boost on his quest for the ton as well.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 110 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 60 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 71 points.

RICHMOND v ST KILDA (MCG, Saturday 1:20pm)
Of the remaining games, the Tigers look like the best chance of causing an upset. Granted they’re coming off their equal-seventh lowest score since joining the VFL/AFL nearly 120 years ago, but the Saints certainly were not convincing against another struggler in North Melbourne last week, and almost lost. And key duo Tim Taranto (calf) and Tom Lynch (suspension) are both available for Richmond. St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is playing so well, that he will probably singlehandedly ensure the Saints get the win again, after being the difference in victories against Melbourne and North Melbourne in the past two weeks, but Richmond has shown on numerous occasions this year that it can certainly be more than competitive on its day.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 25 points.

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BRISBANE v SYDNEY (Gabba, Saturday 4:15pm)
After a hiccup against Gold Coast the week before, the Lions wasted little time in reminding the competition that they are a serious premiership contender with a magnificent performance against Collingwood at the MCG. The second half was a masterclass of contested pressure football and the Magpies just couldn’t match it with them. Lachie Neale (quad) and Ryan Lester (concussion) are a pair of key outs for Brisbane, but Chris Fagan’s side is blessed with so much talent and depth, it should still be far too good for a Swans side that was anything but convincing against a severely depleted Essendon outfit at the SCG last week.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 29 points.

CARLTON v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7:35pm)
The Blues gave Fremantle a massive fright in Perth last week, before being overrun in the second half yet again. But they’re coming up against the most ruthless Suns team the league has seen this week and despite the game taking place in Melbourne, Carlton is really going to struggle to keep Gold Coast at bay. Damien Hardwick’s side has won its last two games by an average of 75 points and looks destined to play finals for the very first time since joining the AFL in 2011. It should be far too good for the Blues.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 31 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:40pm)
As far as cooked teams are concerned, the Power just about take the cake. Stick a fork in them, they are done. They’ve lost five of their last seven matches, and their last two routs at the hands of Adelaide and Geelong have been by an average of 93 points. This coaching handover season has been an unmitigated disaster. Outgoing Ken Hinkley’s four biggest losses as Power coach have all occurred this year. The care factor from the players has hit rock bottom, which makes them ripe for the picking for a side like Fremantle which is charging towards finals footy with a head full of steam having now won 10 of its last 11 matches.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Fremantle by 35 points.

GWS v NORTH MELBOURNE (Manuka Oval, Sunday 1:40pm)
The Kangaroos rediscovered their competitive mojo last round as they almost upset St Kilda a week after copping a 101-point towelling from Geelong. But up against a Giants side on the rebound after its stunning 88-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne can expect few favours this week. GWS coach Adam Kingsley and veteran midfielder Stephen Coniglio both said their team produced its worst performance of the Kingsley era last Thursday, so it can be expected that the Giants will make light work of the bottom-two Kangaroos as they look to regain the percentage they lost to the Bulldogs with a spot in the finals still not locked away.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 74 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 52 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 45 points.

MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Sunday 3:15pm)
Just days after the Demons sacked long-time premiership coach Simon Goodwin, the big question is will they get that fabled dead-cat bounce as a result? While it wouldn’t be surprising to see them put up a fight under caretaker coach Troy Chaplin, the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs just have too much on the line with a finals berth within touching distance. They’re also in very good form, having won six of their last eight games by an average of 65 points, and the two losses in that period were narrow defeats to flag contenders Adelaide and Brisbane. The Demons are going to have a hell of a time trying to contain the Dogs’ considerable firepower.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 37 points.

WEST COAST v ADELAIDE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 3:10pm)
If the Cats do end up breaking some records on Friday night against Essendon, then it would come as no surprise if Adelaide break Geelong’s new records a mere 48 hours later. This game has ‘bloodbath’ written all over it. In one corner we have the white-hot, ladder-leading flag favourite Adelaide, and in the other we have one of the worst teams the VFL/AFL has ever seen in West Coast. It promises to be a car crash of epic proportions and it could get incredibly ugly very quickly.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 112 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 58 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 67 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 136
RONNY 129
ROCKET 123

*all times are local