Richmond’s Anzac Day eve clash against Melbourne is comfortably the best game on the schedule in Round 6.

GWS v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Manuka Oval, Friday 7.50pm local time)
A mere fortnight ago, the only selling point for this match looked like it was going to be the intense and spiteful rivalry that these two clubs had quickly developed over recent years. But thanks to the Giants’ surprising resurgence with shock wins over Collingwood and Sydney, the undermanned expansion club has singlehandedly added a whole lot more intrigue to this contest. It’s amazing what happens when a team gives the kids a go (albeit the Giants’ hand was forced due to injury). There’s this new sense of hope, vigour and hunger about the GWS side that was badly lacking in the opening three rounds. Can the Giants take down the hottest team in the competition and make it three wins in a row? Probably not. The Bulldogs are playing absolutely scintillating football at the moment and there’s a reason they sit on top of the ladder. Their star-studded midfield is dominant, their forward line is as cohesive as it’s been in some time and their undersized backline is being led superbly by Alex Keath. And let’s not forget, Stefan Martin returns this week to help his young apprentice Tim English, who has been thriving since the former Lion arrived, as well as Caleb Daniel. The Giants will have a crack, especially with the form Toby Greene is in, but the Dogs should make it six from six.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.

GEELONG v WEST COAST (GMHBA Stadium, Saturday 1.45 local time)
Save for a win over Brisbane, a game which it probably shouldn’t have won, there has been little to be enthused by about Geelong’s first five weeks. Yes, the Cats might have a 3-2 record, but they are playing a tepid brand footy and they are vulnerable. Compounding things for them is Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield (ankle) being sidelined for an extended period. But they should welcome Jeremy Cameron to finally play his first game for the club. The Eagles have their own issues with Luke Shuey (hamstring), Liam Ryan (shin), Elliot Yeo (groin) and Shannon Hurn (calf) all missing, but if they give it their best shot, they’re a very good chance of winning. The Cats are ranked 14th in the AFL this year for goals per inside 50, while the Eagles are No.1 in that category and they also boast the best disposal efficiency inside forward 50 (64.6 per cent). If they can continue that trend with Oscar Allen, Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy (assuming he overcomes an ankle complaint) all in good form, Adam Simpson’s men could very well get the chocolates.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 12 points.

GOLD COAST v SYDNEY (Metricon Stadium, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
A week is a very long time in football. Just ask the Swans. Seven days ago they were riding high with a 4-0 record and looked destined for a shock return to finals footy. Fast forward to round six, and they have been decimated by injuries to key players. Lance Franklin (knee), Isaac Heeney (hand), Dane Rampe (finger) and Tom Hickey (knee) are all unavailable this week, as are Robbie Fox (finger) and Sam Naismith (knee). Luckily for them, having their ruck department in disarray won’t hurt them too badly as the Suns are missing their own main man in that area of the ground in Jarrod Witts. Gold Coast knows all about long injury lists, with Sam Day, Matt Rowell, Connor Budarick, Rory Thompson and Zac Smith all sidelined with serious knee injuries as well. Sydney has been the most efficient side in 2021, averaging a goal every 24.5 disposals, while the Suns are ranked 16th in that category. But the signs have been there in the last couple of weeks that Sydney’s shine might already be starting to fade. A strong response should be expected from the Suns after their lame showing against the Bulldogs last week, and they could go close to their second win.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 3 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 32 points.

CARLTON v BRISBANE (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
The Blues have been smashed in the media all week for their poor showing against Port Adelaide, but perhaps the criticism has been a touch overboard considering two of their three losses have come against flag fancies Richmond and the Power. And they are missing quite a few key players due to injury. But unfortunately for them, they come up against another premiership contender having just helped itself to a nice, easy kill after a tough opening month to the season. The Lions have that smell of blood back in the nostrils following their clinical dismantling of Essendon in the wet at the Gabba, and now they’ve got a taste for it, it’s going to be hard to see many teams getting in their way, especially mid-table sides like Carlton. Even during their recent tough period, the Blues were one team the Lions enjoyed playing, and having won seven of their last nine meetings, Chris Fagan’s men should be too good again.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 29 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 16 points.

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MELBOURNE v RICHMOND (MCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
Comfortably the match of the round, this is a promoter’s dream. In one corner we have the undefeated Demons enjoying their best start to a season since 1994, and in the other we’ve got the reigning back-to-back champions who look like they’ve got the glint back in the eye following their destruction of St Kilda last week. In fairness, they were pretty stiff not to beat Port Adelaide a week prior, so the Tigers have been purring for a while. The Demons have an embarrassment of riches at the selection table with Steven May (eye socket) and Bayley Fritsch (hand) both in strong contention, while it’s going to be hard to deny Sam Weideman after he kicked seven goals in the VFL, and boom recruit Ben Brown also got through his reserves game unscathed. The Tigers are close to full strength, too, with only Dion Prestia (hamstring), Nick Vlastuin (knee) and Ivan Soldo (knee) unavailable, so it promises to be one hell of a spectacle in the Anzac Day eve marquee match, which has quickly become a hit in its short history. Both teams are flying, but if they both bring their absolute best, which there’s nothing to suggest they won’t, the Tigers will have the Demons covered.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 20 points.

FREMANTLE v NORTH MELBOURNE (Optus Stadium, Saturday 6.10pm local time)
After ticking off an important milestone last round by beating the Crows at Adelaide Oval and proving they’re not just a home-ground side, the Dockers are starting to resemble the finals smoky some pundits earmarked them as before the season started. Andrew Brayshaw gets better every week, David Mundy is an evergreen performer, Matt Taberner kicked a match-winning bag of goals and their backline, led by the brilliant Luke Ryan, was tremendous. Credit where credit is due, the Kangaroos have definitely shown a lot of improvement in their last two games, and suggestions that they’ll go through the season winless look to be off the mark, but they’re going to have to wait a little longer before breaking their duck for season 2021.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Fremantle by 38 points.

HAWTHORN v ADELAIDE (Launceston, Sunday 12.30pm local time)
Are the wheels starting to fall of the Crows after such a promising start to the year? The beauty about footy is that you don’t have to wait very long to make amends, and they’ll be able to answer that question on Sunday following a disappointing loss to the Dockers at home. It was a game Matthew Nicks’ side shouldn’t have lost and it’s a defeat that has probably stung a bit more than most. But the Hawks in Tassie have been an historically tricky proposition so Adelaide is going to have its work cut out. Hawthorn has won 49 games from 64 attempts at the ground and, despite the final-quarter blowout against Melbourne last week, the Hawks have found themselves in contention for victory in each of their five games this year, despite sitting 1-4. Stoppages, however, have been a huge issue for the Hawks, who are ranked 13th for points scored from clearances, while the Crows are second in that stat. However, no Rory Sloane (eye) could tilt that battle in Hawthorn’s favour.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 6 points.

COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON (MCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, it’s great to see the traditional Anzac Day game back again and, more importantly, Australian veterans of war getting the widespread recognition that may have been lacking a bit in 2020. As for the game, this really has “coin flip” written all over it. The playing field has been levelled considerably after the Magpies were smashed by injuries last week. Jordan de Goey (concussion), Jeremy Howe (hamstring) and Levi Greenwood (concussion) will join Taylor Adams (knee) and Jamie Elliott (leg) on the sidelines. However, Essendon’s backline general Jordan Ridley is also out due to concussion. Based on all of the above, if you look at how well the Bombers played against St Kilda and Sydney, there’s really no excuse for the young and enthusiastic side to lose. For the first time in a while there seems to be a freshness in the air at Tullamarine, while conversely things appear to be far from hunky dory at the Holden Centre. With both sides 1-4, the loser can basically kiss finals goodbye, which by extension adds a lot of pressure on out-of-contract Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. The Magpies have dominated this most significant day on the home-and-away calendar, winning five of the last six Anzac Day clashes with the Bombers, but Ben Rutten’s side has a rare chance to turn the tables this weekend.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 14 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 6.10pm local time)
Surely St Kilda couldn’t perform any worse than it did last week against Richmond (although its effort against Essendon a fortnight earlier was a very close second). And the Saints will draw some good memories from this fixture given they beat the Power at this very venue last season. Helping their cause will be the returns of crucial midfield cogs Rowan Marshall and Zak Jones. But the Power look like they mean business this season and, apart from their loss to West Coast, have looked like a serious force to be reckoned with. Brett Ratten’s side should provide some sort of response (how can it not?) but will that response be strong enough to defy the odds and score a major upset win? It’s doubtful.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 33 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 24 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 30
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 33