Bulldog skipper Marcus Bontempelli gets a handball away last time the Dogs played Richmond last year. Photo: AFL MEDIA

BRISBANE v COLLINGWOOD (Gabba, Thursday 7:35pm local time)
It may not seem like it based on their early positionings on the ladder, but this game has the potential to kick off the Easter long weekend in spectacular fashion. New premiership favourite Collingwood is riding high, having won its first three games, but while the Lions have only one victory so far, they are a different side at the Gabba. They looked impotent at Adelaide Oval (against Port Adelaide) and Marvel Stadium (Western Bulldogs) in rounds one and three respectively, but resembled world beaters in round two when they defeated fellow premiership fancy Melbourne in the Queensland capital. Their home-and-away record at the Gabba since the start of 2019 is 38-4, and of the two games they lost there last year, one of them was when they fielded almost a reserves team against Essendon. But they come up against one of the in-form teams in the league in the Magpies who look even better than they did last year when they made it to a preliminary final, and that’s largely thanks to their dramatic improvement in contested possessions. They have blitzed Port Adelaide and Richmond in that area in the last two rounds, and new recruit Tom Mitchell has been a driving force, averaging 14 a match. The Pies face their first significant team balance challenge of the year without a recognised ruckman, but they’re playing so well at the moment, they should be able to overcome that issue.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 7 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v CARLTON (Marvel Stadium, Friday 4:20pm local time)
The Kangaroos’ Alastair Clarkson honeymoon is over, and it couldn’t have ended in more gut-wrenching circumstances for the master coach as he suffered his first defeat in blue-and-white against his former club Hawthorn, from which he exited in unceremonious circumstances, and former pupil/protege Sam Mitchell. But the good news is North has been competitive in all three games in 2023, and is proving to be much tougher opposition than it had been in previous years. The Roos’ midfield is also set to be boosted by two huge inclusions in Luke Davies-Uniacke (calf) and Jy Simpkin (suspension). They take on a Carlton team that might be undefeated, but has definitely shown signs of vulnerability in each of its three matches to date. However, the absence of key backman Griffin Logue (suspension) couldn’t have come at a worse time for North with Carlton twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay to deal with, despite the latter’s recent struggles. The Blues are also hopeful of regaining Matthew Kennedy (calf) and Jack Martin (calf) and although they will be without Blake Acres (suspension) and Matthew Owies (hamstring) they should be good enough to grind out another win.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 21 points.

ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1:15pm local time)
After showing promising signs in patches in the opening fortnight, the Crows finally put it all together in the game that matters most to them – the Showdown against Port – to break through for their first win of 2023 last week. And if they bring that same enthusiasm and intensity for prolonged periods again this weekend, then they’re going to be hard to stop, especially if Riley Thilthorpe and Izak Rankine repeat their feats in attack. Fremantle might be fresh from securing its first victory of the season as well, but it was far from convincing. It took the Dockers until the final quarter to finally break clear of an injury-ravaged West Coast outfit which made the fewest second-half rotations in a game since 2009. There’s a lot more to like about the Crows at this point in time.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 15 points.

RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Saturday 4:35pm local time)
This match looms as an intriguing battle between two teams who have been sluggish out of the blocks so far. Neither the Tigers or Bulldogs have set the world on fire, with just 2.5 wins between them from six matches to date. The Dogs broke their 2023 duck last round, but had to do it ugly against the Lions, while Richmond has been outplayed in large parts of their three matches. However, the Tigers will be boosted by the returns of Dustin Martin (hamstring) and Jacob Hopper (knee) while Taylor Duryea (illness) should be back for the Doggies. The Bulldogs’ pressure last round was exceptional, led by inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli, but can they replicate that nine days later? That’s the big question. Richmond has been far from convincing in its first three games, but has been slightly more impressive than its upcoming opponent.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Richmond by 7 points.

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ST KILDA v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7:30pm local time)
Who could’ve foreseen the Saints sitting on top of the ladder at this stage of the season a month ago? They have quite simply been the story of 2023 so far, and what has made their surge to first place even more commendable is the enormous injury list they’ve been battling. The more casualties needed to overcome, the better they seem to play. And the medical room at Moorabbin continues to fill up with Mason Wood (shoulder) in doubt and Jimmy Webster (fractured cheekbone) set for a long stint on the sidelines. But the lack of personnel hasn’t bothered the Saints so far, so why should it start worrying them now? They might also be missing Jack Steele (collarbone), Max King (shoulder), Tim Membrey (knee), Nick Coffield (calf), Zak Jones (Achilles), Jack Billings (leg), Dan McKenzie (calf) and Jack Hayes (foot), but their ferocious pressure, defensive set-up, improved foot skills and surprisingly effective makeshift forward line have got them off to a perfect start to the season. The Suns might’ve scored an upset win over reigning premier Geelong last week, but their problem over the course of their 13-year existence has been their ability to consistently back up great performances, and they’re going to be put to the test in that department again this weekend.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 19 points.

SYDNEY v PORT ADELAIDE (SCG, Saturday 7:30pm local time)
Both teams are heading into this game on the back of sobering results. The Swans would’ve liked their chances of beating Melbourne at the MCG last week, having done so in their previous two meetings there, while the Power certainly would’ve expected to beat previously winless Adelaide in the Showdown. However, in both cases, they came away emptyhanded and now must regroup for what looms as a crunch clash, especially for Port Adelaide and its out-of-contract, and under-pressure, coach Ken Hinkley. A third consecutive loss would see the Power slump to 1-3, and the unrest surrounding Hinkley’s job security would surely intensify. Sydney’s forward set-up, and how the likes of Lance Franklin, Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey co-exist, has been a fascinating watch to this point of the season. But given how poor the Power have been defensively this year, it could very well prove to be a non-factor for the Swans this week, even if Trent McKenzie (ankle) returns for Port.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 20 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 23 points.

ESSENDON v GWS (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 2:10pm local time)
One of the Bombers’ biggest issues over many years came back to bite them last weekend – forward efficiency. Whether it be poor delivery inside 50, or forwards not providing good leads, Essendon broke down badly in their attacking zone as the likes of St Kilda star Callum Wilkie picked off the Bombers’ forward forays as he pleased. The good news for Essendon, though, is that it is generating enough supply, it just needs to improve the quality. The Dons probably enjoyed more of the play against the Saints, and almost pinched the win in the end, so they’re not travelling terribly, especially after starting the year with two wins. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (ankle) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (quad) could be added to the line-up this week, too. The Giants have been OK so far without being spectacular, and the scoreboard probably flattered them in their loss last week against Carlton. Expect this match to be a hard-fought one.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 18 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 17 points.

WEST COAST v MELBOURNE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 5:20pm local time)
The Eagles have been dealt a hammer blow with Jeremy McGovern (hamstring), Liam Ryan (hamstring), Luke Shuey (hamstring), Jamie Cripps (ankle) and Alex Witherden (concussion) all injured last week and all unavailable. Copping that many injuries is devastating at the best of times, let alone in the lead-up to taking on one of this year’s premiership favourites. And with Nic Naitanui (Achilles) still absent, Melbourne’s Brodie Grundy could run amok in the ruck this week after his dominant performance last week with teammate Max Gawn (knee) sidelined. The Demons should win comfortably.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 54 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 60 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 55 points.

GEELONG v HAWTHORN (MCG, Monday 3:20pm local time)
The Saints are undefeated at the top, while the Cats are the only winless team at the bottom. Whoever put money on that at the start of the year would be able to retire. It’s been an incredible fall from grace for the reigning premiers who have looked a shadow of the team that won their last 16 games in 2022 before ruthlessly clinching the flag by 81 points. Many key players who propelled Geelong to the promised land last year are well down on their output in 2023, while others are just underdone and struggling to achieve bona fide match fitness. No player has been more bruised and battered in the opening three weeks than Sam De Koning, and the precocious defender has finally succumbed to concussion this week and will be unavailable. But in some good news for the Cats, Mitch Duncan (calf) and Rhys Stanley (ribs) should be available. You would think that Geelong will get its long-awaited first win of the year this week against a side many tipped to be wooden spooners, but the traditional Easter Monday fixture has a history of throwing up the odd curveball, and the Hawks will be quietly confident of pulling off an upset, fresh from causing a minor one against North last week, especially if they regain Chad Wingard (calf).
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 2 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 13 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 14
ROCO 12
ROCKET 9