Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak gets a handball away in the Power’s one-point win over St Kilda last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

ST KILDA v PORT ADELAIDE (Marvel Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
The Saints’ spectacular resurgence under returning coach Ross Lyon has been the story of the season so far, and it shows no signs of letting up this week, either. In their first game back under the glare of the Friday night lights, the surprise packet ladder leaders are going to take some beating. St Kilda’s defensive structure is so sound that it easily defeated Carlton last week despite having almost 100 less disposals than the Blues, while its pressure, particularly up forward, remains excellent. That all spells trouble for the Power who are experiencing a big man crisis, and despite recalling Charlie Dixon (knee), they will be without Todd Marshall (concussion), Tom Jonas (suspension) and Mitch Georgiades (knee), while Scott Lycett remains on the outer. Kane Farrell (jaw) is also a significant loss. With Jack Steele and Tim Membrey better for the run after their first games back from injury last week, expect the Saints to maintain their grip on top spot on the ladder.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 13 points.

BRISBANE v FREMANTLE (Gabba, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
After a sluggish start to the season, the Lions are well and truly back. And while last week’s effort against GWS wasn’t as comprehensive as it could’ve been, you got the feeling Brisbane was ‘playing with its food’ towards the end, although given their recent history of finals failures, they probably haven’t earned the right just yet to take it easy against inferior opposition. Still, they’ve won their last three matches by an average of seven goals, and back on their home turf at the Gabba, they have the opportunity to give their percentage a significant boost against the biggest disappointment of the year so far in Fremantle. The Dockers have looked completely impotent over the first six rounds and they appear to be lambs to the slaughter against a Brisbane team whose forward line is fast becoming one of the most dangerous attacking units in the league.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 46 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 37 points.

SYDNEY v GWS (SCG, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
The Swans might’ve got smashed in last year’s grand final, but considering they are one of the most consistent teams of the modern era, it was still odd to see them get obliterated again last week in the manner they did – even though it was against the same team that romped to the 2022 premiership against them. Sydney suffered its worst loss in 25 years against Geelong and was held to its worst second-half score since 1971 in what was one of the darkest nights it has endured since moving from South Melbourne to the Harbour City four decades ago. Taking that into account, you can almost guarantee a pumped-up Swans will come out breathing fire against their local rivals in the 25th Sydney derby. Aiding their cause will be the returns of key bookends Lance Franklin and Tom McCartin, and the former’s inclusion is very timely given GWS copped a hammer blow with star defender Sam Taylor suffering a serious hamstring injury last week. Callan Ward (suspension) and Adam Kennedy (knee) join Taylor on the sidelines. And while the Giants do regain Tom Green, they’re going to find it tough to avoid a third consecutive loss to the Swans.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 22 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 15 points.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
If you read the headlines in the opening fortnight of the season, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the walls were caving in at Whitten Oval. But since then, coach Luke Beveridge, who was right in the crosshairs of the club’s critics, has emphatically got his team back on track with three wins from its past four games to square its ledger at 3-3. And while they lose the instrumental Tom Liberatore due to concussion, they regain a pretty handy replacement in Bailey Smith. The Dogs take on a Hawthorn outfit that sits on the bottom of the ladder, but has been competitive in half of its games so far, and has lost its last two games to GWS and Adelaide by a combined total of just five points. The Hawks could so easily be 3-3 like the Bulldogs. However, they’re 1-5 and desperate to arrest their three-game losing streak. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Bulldogs are looking as good as they have done all year fresh from their comprehensive thumping of Fremantle in Perth last week and, while they are prone to the odd out-of-the-blue stinker, should be too strong.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 26 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 31 points.

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MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE (MCG, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The honeymoon is well and truly over now for the Kangaroos, having lost their last four games by an average of 40 points, after opening the season with back-to-back wins, and the pain looks set to continue for them this week as they come up against one of the premiership favourites in Melbourne. Poor performances against Brisbane and Essendon aside, the Demons have looked pretty solid so far this year, and they have a golden opportunity to fill their boots against the struggling Roos this week. A win on Saturday night would see Melbourne record four consecutive wins against North for the first time since 2006.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 45 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 50 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 45 points.

WEST COAST v CARLTON (Optus Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm local time)
The Blues might’ve gone through the opening month undefeated, but after back-to-back losses, make no mistake, the positivity from those first four weeks has quickly evaporated – the natives are well and truly restless. And while it may seem a bit unfair, the success-starved Carlton fan base is impatient as it’s ever been, which is understandable given how talented its team’s playing list is. The manner in which the Blues lost to Adelaide and St Kilda is what has the Carlton faithful so disheartened because on both occasions, the Blues were completely out-coached. On paper, they have a much easier task this week against a decimated West Coast line-up, but they would not want to leave Perth without the four points, because the pressure will be dialled up considerably, especially on coach Michael Voss. Helping Carlton’s cause are the returns of star backmen Sam Docherty and Adam Saad, who will provide much-needed zip from defence. As is so often the case, the Eagles’ injury list will be too great to overcome for them to mount any meaningful challenge.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 27 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Carlton by 21 points.

ESSENDON v GEELONG (MCG, Sunday 1.10pm local time)
The Bombers are just behind the Saints as the biggest early-season surprise packets, and while they lost the unlosable match against the Magpies on Anzac Day, the fact that they were in such a commanding position against a premiership contender, 10 days after beating another flag threat in Melbourne, shows that they have come a long way in a short time in their development under new coach Brad Scott. However, no matter where you are situated on the premiership clock, you should never blow a five-goal three-quarter time lead, and their loss to Collingwood would’ve stung badly. The Dons have produced a consistent form line over the first six weeks, something which has been very refreshing and long overdue for their supporters, but they’re going to get a very stern test of their bona fides against another league heavyweight this week in the Cats. After making a very slow start to the year, the reigning premiers are well and truly back, having won their last three games by an average of 74 points, and they looked downright scary against the Swans last week. With three extra days’ rest on the Bombers, Geelong is well-placed to extend its winning streak against them to five games.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 24 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 30 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 31 points.

RICHMOND v GOLD COAST (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 3.20m local time)
If there’s one team that has historically proven to be a ‘banana skin’ match-up for the Tigers, it’s Gold Coast. Some of the expansion club’s most memorable wins have come against Richmond, from Karmichael Hunt’s goal after the siren in 2012 to, more recently, Noah Anderson’s match-winning goal at the death last year. The Suns even managed to upset the Tigers at Marvel Stadium in 2021, the scene for this week’s meeting of the two teams. But what might make it tough for Gold Coast to make it three wins on the trot against Richmond is the fact that its best player Touk Miller will be missing due to a knee injury. Although that loss is evened out somewhat by the absence of Dion Prestia who is being managed by the Tigers. The Suns will be buoyed by their recent form against Richmond, but Damien Hardwick’s men were far from disgraced against the Demons on Anzac Day eve, and should have enough in them to secure their second win of the year.
RONNY’S TIP: Richmond by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 12 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Richmond by 7 points.

ADELAIDE v COLLINGWOOD (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4.10pm local time)
Just like Gather Round, which was staged in this city two weeks ago, when St Kilda took on Collingwood in the final game, the best has once again been saved for the last with the rejuvenated Crows taking on the red-hot Magpies. Adelaide is riding a four-game winning streak for the first time since 2019 while Collingwood (5-1) has made its best start to a season since 2011 – a year in which the Pies made it to a grand final. Collingwood’s self-belief following its incredible run of close wins last year was once again on show for all to see on Anzac Day when it erupted in the final quarter, kicking the last seven goals to transform a 28-point deficit into a 13-point win – its biggest comeback from a three-quarter time deficit in 36 years. Craig McRae’s men just know they can win from any position, which augurs well for them at the pointy end of the season. They’re super fit, skilful and are a force to be reckoned with, especially with the young superstar Nick Daicos running amok. Just 31 games into his brilliant career, he is already the red-hot favourite for the Brownlow. The Crows have been very impressive in the past month, especially in their wins over Port Adelaide and Carlton, but the Pies are on a different level and are set to be further bolstered by the inclusions of Taylor Adams and Nathan Murphy. Collingwood has won its last five games against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, and is going to be hard to stop from making it six in a row.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 19 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide 6
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 9 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 35
ROCO 31
ROCKET 31