Will Ashcroft and his Brisbane Lions head to Perth to face Fremantle in a top-five blockbuster. Photos: AFL MEDIA

ESSENDON v ST KILDA (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7:20pm)
How these two sides ended up in a prime time slot this late into the season is truly one of the biggest mysteries of 2025. For the Bombers, who have now lost 10 games in a row, this is just one of five Friday/Thursday night games they’ll end up featuring in from the final six rounds. Truly head-scratching stuff. And as if the Dons’ personnel issues aren’t catastrophic enough, they’ll be without inspirational captain Zach Merrett (hand) this week, as well as Dylan Shiel (suspension) and Archer May (ankle). They just cannot buy a trick. The Saints have won their past three games, and while they haven’t exactly been convincing during that period, the fact is they’re coming up against a glorified VFL team this week and have one of the hottest players in the league in their side in Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. Those factors should be enough to decide the contest.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 21 points.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE (Optus Stadium, Friday 6:35pm)
Luckily for footy fans, they only have to sit through an hour of the Who Cares Cup between the Bombers and Saints until the main event comes around between a pair of premiership contenders. There are few teams running hotter at the moment than the Dockers who have now won 11 of their last 12 games to storm into the top four. Two points behind them in fifth are the Lions, underscoring the enormity of this clash. It could very well decide who gets the double chance out of these two sides and the loser, incredibly, will be in danger of missing the finals altogether. Brisbane slipped up yet again at home last week against the Swans, continuing their bizarre run of form in 2025, which has seen them lose just two on the road but four at the Gabba. The good news for Brisbane, then, is that it is hopping on a plane again this week, and crucially its suspect backline gets much-needed reinforcements in Brandon Starcevich and Ryan Lester. The Lions have an enviable reputation of getting themselves up for the big clashes against the top sides, as evidenced by their wins against Collingwood at the MCG, the Cats in Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG. Chris Fagan’s men relish having their backs against the wall and could quite easily throw a spanner in the works of Fremantle’s finals hopes.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 9 points.

GOLD COAST v GWS (Carrara, Saturday 12:35pm)
This is another clash which has huge implications for the top eight and is easily the biggest meeting between the Suns and Giants since GWS entered the comp in 2012, a year after Gold Coast. With just two rounds to go, both sides are in the top eight, which has never happened before by a long shot, and the Suns are on the verge of their maiden finals campaign. Both teams are only a game outside the top four, but, on the flip side, they also have the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs breathing down their necks, highlighting how tight the run home has become. GWS and Gold Coast have suffered some big setbacks with Jake Stringer (hamstring) and Bailey Humphrey (knee) both unavailable respectively. But Damien Hardwick’s team gets a fairly handy replacement in the form of Sam Flanders. The Suns and Giants have both won six of their last seven games, ensuring this clash should be just as good as their last meeting eight weeks ago, which GWS won by seven points. And it would come as no shock to see the Giants pip the Suns again in an entertaining contest between two evenly-matched sides.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 3 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 11 points.

CARLTON v PORT ADELAIDE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 1:20pm)
This is another match that has no bearing on the top eight, and therefore isn’t all that interesting. But given how unpredictable the Blues and Power can be, the contest itself could be an entertaining one. It’s been a year to forget for both sides, who have both lost five of their last six matches. But Carlton has been competitive in its past two games against finals contenders Fremantle and Gold Coast, while the Power almost caused one of the upsets of the year against the Dockers last week. Sam Walsh returns for his first match in 10 weeks in what should be a big boost for the Blues, but Port Adelade is running out of chances to deliver outgoing coach Ken Hinkley one last win. Given how much the Power has fed off emotion under Hinkley, and with their final game against top-four fancy Gold Coast next week, this clash against Carlton looms as a case of now or never for Port Adelaide to secure a victory for Hinkley.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 19 points.

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HAWTHORN v MELBOURNE (MCG, Saturday 4:15pm)
Despite sacking their coach recently, the Demons haven’t been in terrible form. Save for a catastrophic final quarter against St Kilda, their past three matches have been impressive. However, this week they face one of the hottest teams in the league. Hawthorn has flicked the switch at precisely the right time of the year and appears to be storming towards a finals berth having now won seven of its last nine games, including an astonishing beatdown of long-time premiership favourite Collingwood last week. And those two losses in that period to flag fancies Adelaide and Fremantle were close-run things. The added emotion of stalwart Luke Breust’s retirement announcement will only serve to further inspire Sam Mitchell’s men who should be far too good for Melbourne.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 31 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Hawthorn by 15 points.

ADELAIDE v COLLINGWOOD (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:05pm)
On paper, this should be the match of the round, but this is no ordinary meeting between first and third in the second-last weekend of the season. The Magpies have fallen in a giant hole so soon after cruising 10 points clear on top of the ladder. They’ve now lost four of their last five games, and their most recent performances against fellow premiership contenders Brisbane and Hawthorn have been particularly alarming. On both occasions their midfield got towelled up and their backline was shambolic. For the first time all year, Collingwood has looked like its age. And while the Crows were far from convincing in squeaking past bottom-placed West Coast last week, back at home with one of the most dangerous forward lines in the league against such a disorganised and rudderless defence, that will once again be missing its anchor Jeremy Howe (concussion), they are going to make life very difficult for the floundering Magpies once again.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 4 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 11 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND (MCG, Sunday 1:10pm)
The Tigers might only be half a game clear of the Kangaroos, but they have been more reliable over the course of the year in terms of bringing effort and making life difficult for their opponents. It’s been yet another disappointing end to a season for North which has now lost its past seven games and has failed dismally in consistently displaying killer intent. Richmond just looks have a more up-and-go about them and that should be enough to see off the Kangaroos’ challenge.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: North Melbourne by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: North Melbourne by 7 points.

SYDNEY v GEELONG (SCG, Sunday 3:15pm)
This looms as a big danger game for the Cats who have been served up easy kills on a weekly basis for the past month. And while comfortable wins over the Saints, Roos, Power and Dons have helped them reach second spot on the ladder, they are in desperate need of a tough hitout with finals around the corner, especially with Richmond next up after the Swans. In-form Sydney will certainly provide a decent audit of Geelong’s bona fides. Dean Cox’s side is finishing the year with a wet sail, having won seven of its last nine games and taken the scalp of the Lions in Brisbane last week. However, the outs of Brodie Grundy (concussion) and Justin McInerney (knee) are significant, and could be enough to tilt the result in Geelong’s favour, especially considering the Cats have named Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Martin in their extended squad. The Swans still have enough big names to ensure a sturdy test, but Geelong, assuming it isn’t too Jeremy Cameron focused as the star forward chases 100 goals, will take things up a notch with September on the horizon.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 19 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 4:40pm)
The Eagles might have pulled a performance out of the box last week as they almost caused one of the biggest upsets in history, before falling just short of premiership favourite Adelaide, but they are one of the worst sides of all time for a reason. With just one win to its credit from 21 attempts, West Coast is at rock bottom, and has been for quite some time. No doubt, the Bulldogs will still be scarred by a similarly woeful Eagles line-up beating them at this exact time of year at the same venue in 2023 to derail their top-eight bid in stunning fashion, but surely lighting won’t strike twice. The Dogs have too much to play for. If they beat West Coast, they’re in the top eight with a round to play. It’s as simple as that. The superior talent and class that Luke Beveridge’s side possesses should ensure another hefty loss for the Eagles.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 71 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 51 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 143
RONNY 137
ROCKET 130

*all times are local