Melbourne star Clayton Oliver evades Richmond surprise packet Mykelti Lefau in a practice match earlier this year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

RICHMOND v MELBOURNE (MCG, Wednesday 7:25pm)
Both of these teams head into this clash coming off a bye and smarting from an upset loss. In the undermanned Tigers’ case, they were undone by the previously winless Eagles (a result which all of a sudden doesn’t look so bad), while the Demons were stunned by the Lions at the MCG. Even though Richmond regains Jacob Hopper (knee) and Dylan Grimes (wrist), Jayden Short (calf) makes way, and it is still without Tom Lynch (hamstring), Tim Taranto (wrist), Dion Prestia (hamstring), Noah Balta (knee), Jack Ross (foot) and Josh Gibcus (knee). If the Tigers thought covering those losses against lowly West Coast was tough, wait until they try to do so against one of the premiership contenders who regain Kysaiah Pickett. After being smacked in the mouth by Brisbane, expect Melbourne to respond strongly.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 36 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 31 points.

ESSENDON v COLLINGWOOD (MCG, Thursday 3:20pm)
The traditional Anzac Day clash is always more highly-anticipated when both sides head into it in good form, and that’s exactly what the case is this year. The 4-2 Bombers are riding high after impressive back-to-back wins over the Bulldogs and Crows, while the Magpies have recovered from a shaky 0-3 start to win their last three games, including victories over top-four hopefuls Brisbane and Port Adelaide. Importantly for the Bombers, they will regain key forward Peter Wright. But that begs the question: who will make way for him? They haven’t played Wright, Sam Draper, Todd Goldstein and Harry Jones in the same team all year. Will they do so this week? Or will the out-of-form Draper potentially make way? It’s a big question because Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron has been in great form, so the manner in which Essendon plans for the ruck battles will be crucial. If last round is any guide, this contest promises to be an absolute pressure cooker. The heat that the Dons and Pies applied to the Crows and Power respectively was ferocious. Collingwood has dominated this fixture (17-10-1) and now that they’re nearing their best form with almost a full strength squad to choose from, that trend looks set to continue.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 15 points.

GWS v BRISBANE (Manuka Oval, Thursday 7:30pm)
Crunch time has arrived early for the Lions. After losing their first three home games in a season for the first time since 2018, following a flawless year at the Gabba in 2023, they are now 2-4 and it will be a long way back from 2-5 if they want to play in the finals. They take on a side that has just copped its first loss of the year, and it was amazing to see how such a strong team looked so vulnerable without one player (Sam Taylor). The Giants struggled badly to contain Carlton’s three-headed monster of Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Tom De Koning, and with their superstar defender still missing due to a serious concussion, Brisbane must surely think it is a chance to get the job done this week with the likes of Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood in its forward line. Compounding things for GWS is champion Toby Greene also being out due to suspension along with Stephen Coniglio (knee), and the Giants’ forward line could cop a double whack with Brent Daniels (knee) in some doubt. Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney (concussion) has joined Will Ashcroft (knee), Zac Bailey (ankle), Keidean Coleman (knee) and Tom Doedee (knee) on the sidelines, but regardless it will be setting itself for a win in this one.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 9 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 5 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (Adelaide Oval, Friday 7:10pm)
Two of the biggest disappointments from last round meet this week. The Power were on the receiving end of a remarkable 12-goal turnaround against Collingwood while the Saints stank it up supremely against the Western Bulldogs. Port Adelaide regains Charle Dixon (managed) while veteran midfielder Travis Boak (back) is also a chance of returning to the line-up. Meanwhile, St Kilda’s forward line has taken another hit with Dan Butler (hamstring) out and Max King (knee) still under a cloud. Saints coach Ross Lyon can use the excuse of back-to-back short turnarounds as much as he likes, but, really, it looked as though his team reached a critical mass of unavailable players last week and imploded as a result. With not many soldiers due to return for the Saints this week, all signs point to a comfortable victory for the Power.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 27 points.

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NORTH MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE (Blundstone Arena, Saturday 1:45pm)
The Crows will no doubt still be seething after they lost to Essendon due to “Draper-gate”, but if they are honest with themselves, they will acknowledge that they were the inferior team all match and could not cope at all with the Bombers’ intense pressure. If Essendon kicked straighter earlier, the game probably would have been over at half-time. With Adelaide’s season all but shot to pieces before May, it heads down to Tassie for a much-needed confidence boost against the woeful Kangaroos. If it wasn’t already apparent that North Melbourne is miles off the rest of the competition, it became abundantly clear last week when it got pumped by seven goals by fellow bottom-two side Hawthorn. It’s going to be another long, painful year for the Kangaroos and Saturday will provide another example of that.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 42 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 10 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 25 points.

GEELONG v CARLTON (MCG, Saturday 4:35pm)
It will be hard to go past this game as match of the round. The undefeated Cats up against the 5-1 Blues fresh from handing GWS its first loss. But Geelong was just as impressive last week in heading up to the Gabba and picking apart Brisbane in the driving rain. In fact, Chris Scott’s side has been nothing but remarkable all season so far. Again, it has made fools of many pre-season pundits (this writer included) who did not learn their lesson and wrote them off again. Well, after six rounds, the Cats are the last undefeated left team standing. But their job will be made a bit trickier this week without superstar defender Tom Stewart (concussion) up against Curnow, McKay and Tom De Koning. The likes of Sam De Koning, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij will have to stand tall in Stewart’s absence as they did last week. However, the forecast dry conditions will offer up another obstacle for the Geelong backline. Carlton was outstanding last week in pulling off a similarly impressive turnaround to the one that Collingwood did against Port Adelaide. But with Jacob Weitering (quad) and Zac Williams (Achilles) in some doubt, on top of their already bulging injury list, it remains to be seen whether or not the Blues can keep fronting up and producing the goods.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 5 points.

FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Optus Stadium, Saturday 5:30pm)
From two premiership contenders, to a pair of the most unpredictable sides in the AFL. How can anyone accurately predict what the Dockers and Bulldogs are going to produce from week to week? It’s almost easier to the pick the lotto numbers. But one very worrying sign for Fremantle is that its biggest strength (defence) totally unravelled last week as the Harley Reid-inspired West Coast went on the rampage. And because the Dockers still cannot kick a competitive score themselves, they were lambs to the slaughter last week. As the Dogs showed last round against St Kilda, when their offensive arsenal fires up on all cylinders, they can be a devastating opponent. With Tom Liberatore (concussion) a strong chance of returning, Luke Beveridge’s men are a good chance to go west and grab the four points as they have done four of the last five times at the venue against WA teams.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 8 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 21 points.

GOLD COAST v WEST COAST (Carrara, Sunday 1pm)
Just as the long-suffering West Coast supporters finally started enjoying the Harley Reid show, their club has pulled the pin and opted to rest the teenage sensation after producing the best game of his very short career. In the past fortnight, the Eagles have been unrecognisable compared to the side that rivalled Fitzroy as one of the most uncompetitive teams the VFL/AFL had ever seen. And Reid was a big part of that. But with the team’s confidence as high as it’s been in three years, coach Adam Simpson will be bullish that his charges will still be able to parlay that momentum into this week’s clash against the Suns without the sensational No.1 pick. Gold Coast is another side that is hard to get a read on with their performances so far this year resembling a game of snakes and ladders. However, Tom Barrass (suspension) is a huge loss down back for West Coast and that opens the door for one of Ben King or Jed Walter to get off the chain.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 31 points.

HAWTHORN v SYDNEY (MCG, Sunday 4pm)
The Hawks finally broke through for their first win last week, but it’s fair to say that the quality of their opponent goes up a notch or three this week as they take on premiership contender Sydney. The Swans are 5-1 and their most recent performance saw them ruthlessly dispose of Gold Coast with a dominant second half. Hawthorn simply does not have the personnel capable of stopping Sydney at full flight, even with Will Day (foot) set to return for his first game of the season. Luke Parker (arm) could also make his first appearance for 2024 for the Swans to further bolster an already stacked midfield.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 30 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 24 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 29 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 35
RONNY 34
ROCKET 34

*all times are local