Delight and despair. The rematch of the epic Power-Tigers 2020 preliminary final is on Friday evening. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

SYDNEY v ESSENDON (SCG, Thursday 7.20pm local time)
A week ago, this match-up wasn’t looking very appealing, but all of a sudden, after the Bombers unexpectedly registered their biggest win in seven years against St Kilda last week, there’s a bit of buzz about this primetime fixture. The Swans have been the story of the year. After only winning five games last season, they have exploded out of the blocks in 2021 to be the most entertaining and exciting team in the league. The fact they’ve destroyed a preliminary finalist and the reigning premier on their respective home grounds inside the first three weeks underscores how much they’ve improved on the back of their exciting young core of players. And as if this task wasn’t already hard enough for the Bombers, the Swans have brought back Essendon’s modern-day bogyman Lance Franklin. Big Buddy has kicked more goals against the Dons (70) than any other side, including two bags of nine and a haul of eight. Crucially, the Bombers regain skipper Dyson Heppell, but their injury list is still lengthy. As incredible as was their performance against the Saints despite all of their key outs, it would take an extraordinary effort to replicate that against the hottest team in the league right now.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 35 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 32 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7.20pm local time)
The preliminary final rematch has lost a bit of its blockbuster shine after both sides suffered comprehensive smashings last week, but it still retains its billing as match of the round. The Power got found out badly last week against a fellow top-four threat in West Coast, while the Tigers became the latest victim of the 2021 Sydney juggernaut which has swept aside everything that has dared stray into its path. As good as Port’s year was last year, its record against fellow top-four sides wasn’t great (2-3) and it comes up against one such side from 2020 this weekend. The Tigers not only have a good recent record against the Power, with four wins from their last six meetings, but they also have a solid overall record against them at Adelaide Oval (4-4). Port Adelaide needs some early-season credibility to back up all the hype surrounding its flag hopes, but when Richmond has a thumping early-season defeat, as has happened throughout its recent golden run, it tends to respond well and it should do so again this time around.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 2 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v BRISBANE (Ballarat, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
With two heavyweight AFL sides locking horns, this is easily the biggest footy match to which the rural Victorian town has ever played host. In one corner, we have the red-hot Bulldogs, fresh from registering their biggest ever win and 3-0 for the first time in 12 years. In the other corner, the Lions who defied a fair bit of adversity both on and off the field to score a thrilling after-the-siren victory last week and avoid a dreaded 0-3 start to the year, keeping their top-four hopes alive. The Bulldogs midfield was devastating last week and played a big part in Josh Bruce bagging 10 goals against a hapless North Melbourne. But they’re going to come up against a fair bit more resistance this week against a Lions on-ball brigade that is almost as good. And Bruce can expect the company of one Harris Andrews as well. The loss of Ryan Gardner (shoulder) will put further strain on the Dogs backline in a game they can ill-afford it with Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood lining up in Brisbane’s forward line. Expect Zaine Cordy, Lewis Young or the untried Buku Khamis to take Gardner’s place. Meanwhile, the Lions expect to regain Jarrod Berry (hamstring), Oscar McInerney (ankle) and Darcy Gardiner for the clash. McInerney’s inclusion, in particular, will be much needed given how effective the Dogs’ Stefan Martin-Tim English tandem has been so far in 2021. This should be an absolute belter.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 8 points.

ST KILDA v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
Haven’t the wheels fallen off the Saints in quick fashion? Their gutsy win over GWS in round one was viewed by many as confirmation of their new found maturity and legitimate aspirations for another finals campaign. But since then, they have been very poor, especially last week, when an undermanned Essendon, which many tipped to be a bottom-four side this year, absolutely pummelled them. And it doesn’t get any easier this week for Brett Ratten’s men, who take on a West Coast side that looks every bit a premiership threat following its contemptuous dismissal of Port Adelaide. St Kilda will be hoping like hell that Rowan Marshall (foot) is fit for selection, otherwise Nic Naitanui and his Eagles will have a field day.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 30 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 18 points.

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GOLD COAST v CARLTON (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
What a tough game this one is to tip. Looking at both teams’ injury lists, the result could definitely come down to which side is able to field the stronger line-up. The Suns have been rocked again in the medical room, with co-captain Jarrod Witts (ACL) out for the year, while Matt Rowell, Sam Day, Connor Budarick, Rory Thompson and Zac Smith all remain sidelined too – all with knee injuries. Those six players are incredibly important to the structure of the Suns’ team. Meanwhile, the Blues will be without Charlie Curnow (knee), Jack Martin (knee), Tom De Koning (back), Caleb Marchbank (calf), Zac Fisher (ankle), David Cuningham (concussion) and Nic Newman (knee). Both sides are 1-2, but were very competitive in each of their two losses. These teams are so hard to split right now, but the Blues might just have the edge after a resounding win over Fremantle last week.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 1 point.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 12 points.

COLLINGWOOD v GWS (MCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The Magpies would still be absolutely kicking themselves after falling to the Lions with the very last kick last week after being in front for 96 per cent of the game. For all intents and purposes, Nathan Buckley’s side should be 2-1, but instead they find themselves 1-2 and desperate to square the ledger. And they’ll have a fair opportunity to do just that against a Giants side bereft of optimism and now hit badly by a raft of injuries. The Giants will be without captain Stephen Coniglio (ankle), Lachie Whitfield (liver), Phil Davis (calf), Harry Perryman (illness), Matt De Boer (hamstring), Adam Kennedy (shoulder), Daniel Lloyd (quad), Braydon Preuss (shoulder) and Sam Reid (suspension). That’s just too much to overcome, especially against a Collingwood side which is basically at full strength, Jamie Elliott (leg) aside, at the MCG.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 30 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
As bad as the Giants are travelling, no team in the AFL looks sicker right now than the Kangaroos. They are in a world of pain as the full effects of their overdue rebuild are being felt. There isn’t much light at the end of the tunnel for this mob and, ironically, they come up against an Adelaide side which was in a similar plight last year but has been dramatically rejuvenated with the AFL’s very own version of Lazarus, Taylor Walker, leading the charge in spectacular fashion up forward. The Roos might be at home, but it’s hard to mount a compelling case for them, especially as their average losing margin this season is already 80 points.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 28 points.

MELBOURNE v GEELONG (MCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
With Sydney and the Bulldogs largely stealing all the limelight so far this year, there’s been another surprise packet that has been quietly going about its business under the radar – Melbourne. Granted, the calibre of opposition the Demons have faced in the first three weeks hasn’t matched what the Swans or Dogs have had to contend with, but nevertheless, they find themselves 3-0 for the first time in 16 years and will be aiming to make it four from four for the first time since 1994 – a year in which they made a preliminary final no less. This week is easily their toughest test of 2021 to date, and while the Cats haven’t been exactly setting the world on fire, the good news for them is that they’re 2-1 after hanging on for dear life against Brisbane and Hawthorn in a pair of heart-stoppers. Even better news is that Sam Menegola (shoulder) should return, while Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) and Shaun Higgins (hamstring) are outside chances.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 6 points.

FREMANTLE v HAWTHORN (Optus Stadium, Sunday 2.40pm local time)
The Dockers produced probably their worst performance in Justin Longmuir’s short reign last week. They were uncompetitive in large parts against Carlton and will have to smarten up drastically against a Hawthorn team that has shown no fear so far in 2021, especially against last year’s grand finalists Richmond and Geelong in consecutive weeks. Freo might be back home with captain Nat Fyfe back in the team, but it will still have to make to do without Rory Lobb (knee), Alex Pearce (knee), Hayden Young (hamstring), Lachie Schultz (concussion), Joel Hamling (ankle), Stephen Hill (hamstring) and Brett Bewley (groin). The Hawks are no pushovers and will definitely make the Dockers earn it, but Fremantle, with Michael Walters sure to be better for the run after his first game back last week, are a different proposition at home, and should be a touch too good.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 20 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 18
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 19