Brisbane hasn’t taken a big scalp and its clash with Port Adelaide is a big chance to make that happen. Photo: AFL MEDIA

RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The Tigers have shown that they can cope with numerous injuries to key players in recent years, but that ability is going to be tested to the extreme this round when they face the rampaging, undefeated, ladder-leading Bulldogs. Richmond heads into the blockbuster contest without Dustin Martin (concussion), Dion Prestia (calf), Nick Vlastuin (knee), Kane Lambert (calf) and Ivan Soldo (knee) while Dylan Grimes (ankle) is under a cloud despite being named. But the Dogs have their own issues with Josh Dunkley (shoulder), Tim English (concussion), Laitham Vandermeer (back), Lin Jong (hamstring) and Lachie McNeil (managed) unavailable on top of Toby McLean (knee) and Bailey Williams (collarbone). The Tigers probably look as vulnerable as they have at any point in the past five seasons and would appear to be ripe for the picking for the Dogs and their vaunted midfield. Richmond rarely suffers two comprehensive losses in a row, so you can expect it to really test Luke Beveridge’s side this week, but the Dogs are on a serious roll and will be hard to stop.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 2 points.

COLLINGWOOD v GOLD COAST (MCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Nathan Buckley is coaching for his career in this one. A loss to the Suns at the MCG would just about be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, especially as it would consign the Magpies to an irrevocable 1-6 win-loss record. And Gold Coast heads into this game off its best performance of the year – a 40-point thumping of Sydney. The good news for Collingwood is that Jordan de Goey (concussion) should return. The Magpies have won their last six games against the Suns by an average of eight goals and that trend should continue as Gold Coast isn’t exactly a proven consistent performer on the road and has just three wins from 14 attempts at the MCG.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 20 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 22 points.

ADELAIDE v GWS (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 1.40pm local time)
Good luck predicting a winner here. This would have to be one of the toughest games to pick so far this season. In one corner, we have the Crows who started the season strongly, but let a golden opportunity to go 5-1 slip through their fingers with tight losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn in recent weeks. In the other, we’ve got the Giants, who have overcome a 0-3 start to defy a lengthy injury list and really show some fighting spirit in wins against Collingwood and Sydney as well as the first three quarters of their loss to the Bulldogs last week. Adelaide’s task will be made harder if GWS drags the game down to its level as it did so successfully against the Bulldogs prior to the final term, and with Jesse Hogan looking set to make his club debut for the Giants. Season 2021 has already proven on many occasions that there’s no such thing as a certainty in footy, but back at home, Matthew Nicks’ side should be good enough to move to 4-3 against the Giants who have only beaten the Crows once before in Adelaide.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 9 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 8 points.

ST KILDA v HAWTHORN (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
This isn’t exactly an easy game to predict, either. The Saints have been pretty terrible for most of the year, and although the Hawks are only 2-4 themselves, they have been in every one of their six games for extended periods of time. Alastair Clarkson’s men have definitely shown more ticker so far this season and would be further buoyed by brilliant performances from youngsters Changkuoth Jiath and Jacob Koschitzke against the Crows. Paddy Ryder, Brad Hill (achilles) and Jimmy Webster (groin) are all good chances to play for the Saints, while Jack Gunston (back) could make a surprise return for the Hawks and might be joined in the line-up by Daniel Howe (soreness) and Shaun Burgoyne (ankle). Purely based on effort levels displayed so far in 2021, it’s hard to go past the Hawks, but this serves as the Saints’ last real chance to remain in the finals race and prove the pre-season hype surrounding their club wasn’t misplaced.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 5 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 12 points.

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SYDNEY v GEELONG (SCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The injury-hit Swans look like they are flagging after making such a bright start to the season, which even had some pundits suggesting they were a premiership threat. They looked like they were labouring in back-to-back losses to GWS and Gold Coast, and weren’t exactly convincing in a narrow win against Essendon in round four. Conversely, it looks like the Cats are well and truly back after a sluggish start to the year, and the long-awaited inclusion of Jeremy Cameron appeared to give them the spark against West Coast they were so badly lacking in the opening five weeks. The Cats have an excellent record at the SCG, too, with five wins from their past seven there, including four against the Swans.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 23 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 26 points.

BRISBANE v PORT ADELAIDE (Gabba, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The Power have looked every bit a flag threat so far in the opening six rounds, however their one blemish to date came against West Coast in Perth – and it was a massive blemish. Port Adelaide was made to look second-rate in that contest and its next challenge presents a similar scenario – an away game against a premiership fancy. The Lions are back in town with a pair of wins in a row after a rough opening month to the season, but they haven’t taken a big scalp as yet and this is their big chance to make that happen. The loss of Lachie Neale (ankle) is no doubt a massive blow for the hosts, but it’s not as if Port Adelaide is without star power either given Zak Butters (ankle) and Xavier Duursma (knee) are still unavailable. This promises to be a cracking contest between two heavyweights and Brisbane has the chance to make its first really big statement of 2021.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 7 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 16 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v MELBOURNE (Blundstone Arena, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
The Kangaroos have improved their output marginally in the last three weeks, but they are still a long way off the rest of the competition, especially when one considers that Collingwood is currently second-last. And life doesn’t get any easier for North this week as it takes on one of the hottest teams in the competition in Melbourne, which has made its best start to a season since 1965 and is fresh from putting Richmond to the sword in impressive fashion. Adding intrigue to this contest is the fact that Ben Brown will coincidentally make his club debut for the Demons against the very side that for some reason deemed him to be surplus to requirements at the end of last year – it’s still a head-scratching decision considering Brown was such a prolific goalkicker prior to 2020 and the Roos find themselves where they are right now. Melbourne will do it easily and a big bag to Brown, who enjoys playing in Hobart, would serve as extra salt to North’s wound.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 62 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 42 points.

ESSENDON v CARLTON (MCG, Sunday 3.20pm local time)
Who would have thought that the Bombers would be ahead of the Blues on the ladder at this stage of the season? Carlton president Mark LoGiudice certainly didn’t given he boldly predicted that his club was ready to end its finals drought this year. Well, Carlton currently sits at 2-4 with its season hanging precariously, and it could all come tumbling down this weekend if Essendon hands it another defeat – and wouldn’t the arch enemy love to do just that? Aside from heavy losses to premiership hopefuls Port Adelaide and Brisbane, the Bombers have looked like a much-improved team playing with a certain kind of freedom that has been badly lacking for quite a few years. New coach Ben Rutten has got them playing an effective, care-free brand of footy and the players are responding. This marks the third grudge match in seven weeks for Essendon, with the third of their 2020 defectors Adam Saad lining up for the Blues – and ironically, with star defender Jordan Ridley back in the side, the Bombers could end up a game clear of Saad after seven rounds and deliver a hammer blow to his September aspirations.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 8 points.

WEST COAST v FREMANTLE (Optus Stadium, Sunday 2.40pm local time)
There’s no doubt that the Eagles are a better side at home this year than away, but the problem they face this week is that they happen to be playing the only other team which enjoys playing in Perth as much as they do – crosstown rival Fremantle. With three wins on the trot, the Dockers are aiming for four in a row for the first time since 2015, and there’s no reason they can’t do it. Led by the evergreen David Mundy, who is surely in Brownlow Medal contention at this early stage, the well-drilled Dockers are starting to look like a serious team under coach Justin Longmuir. They’ve also caught the Eagles at a good time with Liam Ryan (shin), Luke Shuey (hamstring) and Elliot Yeo (groin) out, while Jeremy McGovern (groin) is doubtful. But West Coast is hopeful of regaining Shannon Hurn (calf), Josh Kennedy (ankle) and Jack Petruccelle (hamstring). The disjointed Eagles were deplorable last week, with coach Adam Simpson describing the performance against Geelong as “weak”. You can expect a response from them, but will it be strong enough to get the victory? It’s far from guaranteed. The Dockers appear more settled as a unit and look primed to snap West Coast’s record streak of 10 Western Derby wins in a row.
RONNY’S TIP: Fremantle by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 10 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 36
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 39