Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver is tackled by Adelaide’s Sam Berry. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

ADELAIDE v MELBOURNE (Adelaide Oval, Thursday 7:10pm local time)
Tipped by many to be a finalist this year, or perhaps even a top-four contender, crunch time has arrived early for the Crows as they kick off the second edition of Gather Round. Still searching for its first win of the season, Adelaide could not have chosen a more formidable opponent to break its duck against than the red-hot Demons. Perhaps galvanised by the myriad off-field dramas that continue to engulf it, Melbourne is playing with a steely determination reminiscent of its premiership year three seasons ago. And with Marty Hore (thumb) out, the Dees are a strong chance of regaining the perfect replacement for him down back in the form of superstar backman Steven May (ribs). Lachie Hunter (calf) is also available. While Jordon Butts (ankle) should be OK for Adelaide, the hits keep on coming for the underwhelming Crows with Wayne Milera and Lachie Murphy both ruled out with knee injuries. It’s hard to see Adelaide avoiding its first 0-4 start since coach Matthew Nicks’ first year in charge (2020).
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 31 points.

BRISBANE v NORTH MELBOURNE (Norwood Oval, Friday 4:40pm local time)
Before the season started, most people would’ve thought this match would feature one winless team. The Kangaroos are coming off a diabolical four-year stretch featuring two wooden spoons, and another pair of bottom-two finishes, and faced two preliminary finalists in their first three games. But if someone suggested this game would be contested by two sides searching for their first victory, they would’ve been laughed at. Yet here we are with the Lions also 0-3 after falling five points short of a premiership last year. To say it’s been a tumultuous week off the field for Brisbane would be an understatement after details of an end-of-season trip to Las Vegas infamously surfaced. But against a side that can barely play two quarters of footy per match, the Lions should comfortably get off the mark in season 2024.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 46 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 35 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v ESSENDON (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7:40pm local time)
The Bombers must be shaking their heads as to how they are 2-1, but after dodging big bullets against both the Hawks and, most recently, the Saints, Brad Scott’s men have a positive ledger thanks largely to their grit and determination. But they’re going to need a whole lot more than that if they intend to take down the Power this week. As funny as it might sound, Essendon will have to play more like it did in its only loss of the year against Sydney to be a decent shot of pulling off an upset. And while they lose hard nut Sam Durham (concussion), the Dons regain a like-for-like midfielder in Will Setterfield. The Power will be without Brownlow winner Ollie Wines (hamstring), but they won’t miss a step with his replacement either by recalling Jason Horne-Francis. One thing you definitely know about the Bombers so far in 2024 is that they won’t go down without a fight, but fresh from a clash that featured finals-like intensity against premiership contender Melbourne, and winning every category but the scoreboard, Port Adelaide is going to be hard to beat.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 13 points.

WEST COAST v SYDNEY (Mount Barker, Saturday 1pm local time)
Sadly for Eagles supporters, this year their team is dishing up much of the same from last season. We’re only three games in, but already West Coast’s average losing margin is 64 points. On the weekend, they were held goalless for 83 minutes by the Western Bulldogs in perfect conditions at Marvel Stadium and, after conceding 12 consecutive goals, suffered their second-biggest loss to the Dogs. The Eagles’ final score of 3.12 (30) was their equal-sixth lowest in their history. And when you take that form into a clash with one of the early flag fancies stung by an upset loss last round, it does not augur well. Of all the frightful smashings that West Coast has suffered in recent years, the Swans dished out the granddaddy of them all in Round 15 last year when they registered the biggest ever score conceded by the Eagles (31.19.205) and inflicted their heaviest defeat (171 points). Those numbers might not get repeated this time around, but it won’t be pretty.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 85 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 68 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 93 points.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

FREMANTLE v CARLTON (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 3:50pm local time)
As the only game featuring two undefeated teams, this contest certainly has legitimate claims for match of the round. Of the two sides, the Dockers have definitely been the surprise packets. Convincing wins over runner-up Brisbane and top-eight wannabe Adelaide have been the highlights, and, led by invigorated captain Alex Pearce, their defence has shone so far as they’ve averaged just 60 points against per match. It will be fascinating to see Fremantle’s in-form backline up against Carlton’s rampaging forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow fresh from destroying hapless North Melbourne. The Blues also tormented the Kangaroos all game long with ferocious pressure, and if they can bring that same heat this weekend, Freo will have more than a few problems.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 17 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v GEELONG (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:40pm local time)
This game promises to be a cracker as well. The rejuvenated Bulldogs have hit back hard from their disappointing first match against Melbourne by belting Gold Coast and West Coast in consecutive weeks by an average of 62 points. But the Cats look like making fools of many pundits yet again. After widely being written off in the pre-season, Geelong has started 2024 with a bang to be 3-0. And while their opponents St Kilda, Adelaide and Hawthorn might not be world beaters, it’s the professional nature in which the Cats have taken care of all three teams which has been very impressive. Bulldogs livewire Cody Weightman is in some doubt after hurting the same elbow he dislocated in 2022, but Ed Richards (concussion) is set to return to their backline. The Dogs might have the edge in the middle of the ground, but the Cats look to be stronger both in attack and defence.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 15 points.

GOLD COAST v GWS (Mount Barker, Sunday 12pm local time)
The Suns will have had two weeks to think about their thumping loss at the hands of the Bulldogs by the time this match starts, and they would have needed every bit of those 14 days to prepare, because they are up against the outright premiership favourite GWS. The Giants could not have been more impressive in the way they’ve started the season with dominant wins over Collingwood, North Melbourne and West Coast. Sure, those last two opponents aren’t exactly heavyweights of the AFL, but the style in which they’re winning games is eye-catching to say the least. The orange tsunami continues to thrive under second-year coach Adam Kingsley. Gold Coast hopes to regain co-captain Jarrod Witts (groin) and young gun Bailey Humphrey (shoulder), and while an improved performance from the Suns’ midfield can be expected, after it was shown up by the seasoned Bulldogs, it won’t be enough to derail the GWS juggernaut.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 26 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 21 points.

RICHMOND v ST KILDA (Norwood Oval, Sunday 2:50pm local time)
Both of these teams head into this match with a win apiece after the Tigers produced the early clubhouse leader for upset of the season as they bravely took down the Swans by five points in a thriller at the MCG. Conversely, last weekend the Saints snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they somehow found themselves four points behind at the final siren after leading the Bombers for almost two hours. It’s the kind of result that would sit in the pits of the players’ stomachs for longer than usual and should elicit a fierce response. The momentum that Richmond generated in coach Adem Yze’s first victory was quickly halted by the losses of Tom Lynch (hamstring), Liam Baker (suspension) and Noah Balta (knee) and although Dustin Martin (calf), Jack Graham (quad) and Dylan Grimes (wrist) are all in the mix to return, the Saints will regain key forward Max King from suspension. St Kilda will be without young gun Marcus Windhager through suspension, but it should be good enough to take care of the Tigers.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 17 points.

COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4:40pm local time)
The Hawks were better on Easter Monday, but they continue to be let down by lengthy lapses during games, especially early on. In the past two rounds, Hawthorn has been outscored by a total of 68 points in the first quarter, 1.2 (8) to 12.4 (76), and, when you look at the final scores from those matches against Melbourne and Geelong, they have ultimately proven to be game-deciding bursts. The Hawks simply have to start games the way they’ve performed for the most part in the middle two quarters of matches so far in 2024. Because if they don’t, then the Magpies, fresh from a morale-boosting first win of the year against the Lions in Brisbane, won’t need a second invitation to put them to the sword. Hawthorn’s ability to kick a winning score has been dealt a double blow with Mitch Lewis (hamstring) and Nick Watson (ankle) both unavailable.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 35 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 19
ROCO 19
ROCKET 18