Richmond champion Dustin Martin tackles James Rowbottom last year at the Gabba. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

COLLINGWOOD v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Thursday 7.40pm local time)
The annual five-day Easter football extravaganza is back after a pandemic-forced hiatus last year, and we’ve already had plenty of drama before a ball has even been bounced. This match was originally scheduled to be played at the Gabba, but because of a COVID outbreak in Brisbane and subsequent lockdown of that city, it’s been switched to Melbourne. And the Lions could be stuck on the road for another week or two, so hopefully they manage to get their hands on enough clean jocks to last them the trip! All of a sudden, this is a crunch clash for the Lions, who might still recover to make the finals if they slip to 0-3, but their top-four hopes would be all but shot. Making their task a bit tougher is the fact they don’t have a recognised ruckman heading into a clash against All-Australian Brodie Grundy, who regained form last week against Carlton. Oscar McInerney (ankle) is out for Brisbane, which will probably leave Tom Fullarton and Joe Daniher to split duties against Grundy. But the Magpies also have a big out after Jamie Elliott badly hurt his ankle against Carlton last week. The Lions really should be 1-1 after they were denied a blatant, potentially match-winning, free kick in the dying seconds against Geelong last week, and if they bring that same level of competitiveness to the table this week, their disrupted preparation will be of little consequence.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 14 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 6 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Marvel Stadium, Friday 4.20pm local time)
This has “bloodbath” written all over it. The Kangaroos are already looking like the wooden spoon favourite after two thumping losses to Port Adelaide and Gold Coast. The first one was more acceptable as the Power are a flag threat this year, but the second one was alarming because the Suns were also a bottom-five side last year. Conversely, the Bulldogs have started season 2021 superbly with a pair of impressive wins over top-eight fancies Collingwood and West Coast. Luke Beveridge’s side contains so much talent, especially in the midfield, that a hefty final margin is a huge possibility.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 80 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 36 points.

ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7.20pm local time)
Speaking of the Suns, they look set to overshadow the Kangaroos for the second week in a row, because this contest is certainly shaping up to be the more interesting of the two Good Friday games. Both of these sides are full of youthful exuberance and, at a minimum, have been quite competitive over the first two rounds. And three weeks ago, who would have thought Taylor Walker would be spoken about as a huge threat in this game? The Crows’ key forward has wound back the clock considerably with 11 goals already from his first two matches to be leading the Coleman Medal, after many had written his football epitaph. In a further boost, Adelaide should also regain Jake Kelly (concussion) and Luke Brown (achilles). Noah Anderson has stepped up magnificently in Matt Rowell’s absence, but with Gold Coast losing key players at either end of the ground in Sam Day and Connor Budarick due to knee injuries, the pendulum will probably swing in the Crows’ favour.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 2 points.

RICHMOND v SYDNEY (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
It was supposed to be the Dusty-Buddy show at the MCG, but unfortunately for the footy-loving public, the Swans have taken the conservative approach and rested their superstar forward after he kicked three goals in his first game since 2019 last week against Adelaide. Nonetheless, this match-up still promises to be a doozy, because both sides head in undefeated. How about the Swans? With a considerable injection of talented youngsters, they look a completely different team to the one that scrounged its way to a 5-12 win-loss record last year. They are playing fast, attacking, free-flowing, carefree footy, and it is producing huge results, their last two scores their highest two scores from their last 50 games. But they come up against no ordinary side this weekend. Richmond has shown that despite winning three of the last four flags, it is still as hungry as ever this season. The Tigers’ pressure last week was frantic and non-stop, and their ability to make the opposition pay for even the slightest mistake remains elite. They will no doubt relish the chance to put a supposed team on the rise back on its backside.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 22 points.

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ESSENDON v ST KILDA (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
Season 2021 is already looking like a train wreck for the Bombers, and as if things couldn’t get worse after an 0-2 start, they now have to contend with the absences of Dylan Shiel (knee), Sam Draper (ankle) and Jye Caldwell (knee) for extended periods. And when you consider key defenders Michael Hurley (hip), Patrick Ambrose (foot) and James Stewart (hamstring) are all still unavailable, and captain Dyson Heppell (back) no certainty to return this week, it paints a rather bleak picture. Jake Stringer should return, but the Dons are suffering badly from a lack of experience out on the park, and it showed last week against Port. The Saints have also got their injury issues, with no fewer than seven first-choice players unavailable, but as they proved in round one, they’re much more capable of covering for them than the Bombers are, and they should atone for their loss to Melbourne last week.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 28 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 34 points.

WEST COAST v PORT ADELAIDE (Optus Stadium, Saturday 5.10pm local time)
Hard to go past this one as match of the round. Not only were both sides considered top-four chances before the season began, but they’re already exhibiting traits in their game that suggest they’re going to be right in the thick of it when the whips are cracking. The gallant Eagles almost pulled off a memorable victory against the Bulldogs last week in the early clubhouse leader for game of the year, while the Power have clinically dismantled bottom-two sides North and Essendon. However, West Coast is by far Port Adelaide’s biggest challenge so far in 2021 and we’ll get a much clearer idea of the Power’s premiership bona fides on Saturday evening. Helping Port’s cause is the likely returns of Connor Rozee (foot) and Todd Marshall (back), while West Coast is set to regain captain Luke Shuey (hamstring). Both sides are close to full strength, which will make this contest even more compelling. The Eagles have an imposing record at this ground, winning nine of their last 10 there, but Perth isn’t a city that holds fears for the Power, who have won two of their last three against West Coast in the WA capital. If Port is as good as people seem to think, this is a “must-win”.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 4 points.

CARLTON v FREMANTLE (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
Crunch time has arrived nice and early for the Blues, whose president said finals is the expectation for the club in season 2021. And in such a crucial clash, they’re going to have to make do without two of their most creative forwards in Jack Martin (knee) and Zac Fisher (ankle), while Charlie Curnow (knee), Caleb Marchbank (calf), Tim De Koning (back), Nic Newman (knee) and Jack Silvagni (shoulder) remain sidelined. Carlton has shown in the opening two rounds that it is capable of producing scintillating footy in spite of all those outs, but the Blues’ biggest issue is their inability to maintain the rage for anywhere near four quarters. Freo, on the other hand, is already a very well-drilled unit under second-year coach Justin Longmuir, and despite an unavailability list which features Nat Fyfe (concussion), Rory Lobb (knee), Alex Pearce (knee), Darcy Tucker (hamstring), Joel Hamling (ankle), Griffin Logue (hamstring), Mitch Crowden (calf), Bailey Banfield (ankle) and Brett Bewley (groin), it is not a side to be taken lightly. The potential returns of Michael Walters (hamstring) and Liam Henry (calf) to the forward line would be a huge boost. If Carlton doesn’t win this, the Blues slip to 0-3 for the seventh time in nine seasons, and their finals dreams will go close to evaporating before the Easter break even ends. The Blues in a tight one.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 9 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 10 points.

GWS v MELBOURNE (Manuka Oval, Sunday 6.10pm local time)
Speaking of seasons on the line, the Giants are already at the crossroads, following an inauspicious start to their campaign. They should never have lost to a badly-depleted St Kilda in round one, and they were borderline embarrassing against another injury-ravaged side in Fremantle last week. Granted, the Giants have their own personnel issues, but they don’t dictate the effort and energy levels of the 22 men who run out on to the park and on that front, Leon Cameron’s men have been well below acceptable levels. This week, they come up against a Melbourne side that really seems to be clicking nicely early on with the likes of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca in great form, Steven May and Jake Lever working beautifully in defence, and some exciting fresh faces such as Kysaiah Pickett helping revitalise the line-up. Based on exposed form, it’s very hard to go against the Demons.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 20 points.

GEELONG v HAWTHORN (MCG, Monday 3.20pm local time)
The Cats haven’t had the smoothest start to the season, and could so easily be 0-2 if not for an outrageous holding-the-ball non-decision in front of Brisbane’s goal at the death last Friday night, which would have all but cost them victory. And conversely, the Hawks have made a relatively bright start to 2021, with an amazing comeback win against Essendon, before testing Richmond and ultimately failing. In the latter game, the Hawks really struggled to cope with the Tigers’ manic pressure, but they never gave up, in what was a good sign for an emerging team. They should be further boosted by the return of Chad Wingard (calf), but unfortunately are set to lose promising defender Will Day (ankle) for a lengthy period. The Cats lose Gary Rohan to suspension, but could regain star duo Mitch Duncan (calf) and Sam Menegola (shoulder). Chris Scott’s men have been out of sorts in the opening fortnight, but playing last year’s grand finalists in back-to-back weeks is probably a bit too much to ask of the Hawks.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 16 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 12
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 12