Collingwood celebrates after its one-point win over West Coast in Perth last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

GOLD COAST v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Metricon Stadium, Thursday 7.40pm local time)
It’s taken them 10 years, but the Suns have finally been awarded their first prime time game. And although it’s not on free-to-air, it’s still a big milestone for the expansion club and a big endorsement of the footy they’ve been playing in 2020. With a 4-3 record, this is their second-best start to a season, and their best start since their 2014 campaign, which looked destined for September but was derailed by Gary Ablett’s shoulder injury. With yet another unchanged line-up this week, it’s hard to remember a more settled Gold Coast team. However, the Suns face a huge test this round against a red-hot Bulldogs team which last week emphatically returned to the winners’ list, after their thumping loss to Carlton, to make it four wins from their last five games. Luke Beveridge’s men are looking every bit the top-four threat most pundits picked them to be in the pre-season and should be too strong.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 20 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 30 points.

GWS v RICHMOND (Giants Stadium, Friday 7.50pm local time)
It’s the grand final rematch, and fittingly, it’s one of the hardest games to pick a winner from this round. In one corner, you’ve got the undermanned Tigers, who continue to prove they are one of the best clubs in the AFL at covering their losses, with their considerable depth and impressive development program allowing their system to remain strong despite a galaxy of absent stars. In the other corner, you have the Giants, who haven’t been terrible this year, but certainly haven’t been anywhere as good as they were in their run to their first grand final last season. The footy world continues to wait for the orange beast to awaken, and it doesn’t seem to be far away, but if GWS continues to lose the inside-50 count, as it has done all year, it’s already on the back foot. However, the expected return of Toby Greene for the Giants should be good enough to hand Richmond its fourth loss in a row at this ground.
RONNY’S TIP: GWS by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Richmond by 6 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v CARLTON (Gabba, Saturday 1.05pm local time)
After a promising start, this season continues to spiral out of control for the Kangaroos, who could only muster two goals in a comprehensive loss to Richmond last week. Their delivery to their forward line is predictable and their general ball use is appalling. In contrast, the Blues are one of the most efficient sides at kicking goals once they get the ball into their forward 50. Carlton was one Robbie Gray miracle from the boundary away from registering a memorable win against ladder-leading Port Adelaide last week, and if that result isn’t still burning in the Blues’ guts, then they’ll never get to where they want to be. Carlton’s run-and-gun style of play is attractive and has helped it improve in 2020, and if the Blues continue to take the game on, a sixth consecutive loss for North Melbourne is inevitable.
RONNY’S TIP: Carlton by 31 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Carlton by 16 points.

SYDNEY v HAWTHORN (SCG, Saturday 3.35pm local time)
Another team which is really struggling this year is Sydney. Injuries haven’t helped the Swans’ cause, and the level of talent across their line-up on the field isn’t up to the required standard. The Hawks have hit a huge speed bump recently too, with three consecutive comprehensive defeats on the trot. But it’s not as if Alastair Clarkson’s men haven’t faced strong opponents, with last year’s top five teams already in their rearview mirror. Hawthorn is basically as old as Sydney is young, and the Hawks certainly have enough quality in their side to help turn their fortunes around and hand the Swans a fourth loss at their home ground this year and their 17th in three seasons.
RONNY’S TIP: Hawthorn by 17 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Hawthorn by 12 points.

PORT ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.10pm local time)
There is no doubt about it – the Power are running hot. So much so they’re now pulling victories out of the jaws of defeat as they did against the Blues last week in the biggest example yet of their sky-high self-belief. However, with Connor Rozee (heel), Ryan Burton (quad), Steven Motlop (ankle) and Scott Lycett (knee) all either in doubt or ruled out, Port Adelaide might face a huge test of its personnel in what will be its first game at home in six weeks. The Saints navigated a tricky encounter with bottom-placed Adelaide to return to the winners’ circle last round, but they remain one of the most unpredictable sides in the competition. Both teams are formidable when it comes to scoring from clearances, so the midfield battle promises to be an absolute ripper. But the Power back at home with strong support in the stands should be too good.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 12 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 8 points.

ADELAIDE v ESSNDON (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 12.35pm local time)
This is a clash that is sending jitters throughout the Essendon-supporting community. The Bombers’ record against the bottom team in the last four years is horrific, winning just one of six such encounters. The fact the game also provides a great chance for the Dons to maintain their position of strength on the ladder, with one game in hand, probably raises the anxiety levels more than anything. All things being equal, this should be a formality for the Bombers with the Crows still winless and amid their worst start to a season. Adelaide showed some spirit against the Saints last round, but Essendon is ranked No.1 in the competition for tackle differentials while the Crows are dead last in that metric. Even though the Bombers are still without six of their best players, if they crank up the pressure as they have done for most of the year, they should still be good enough to come away with the win at a ground where they’ve won their last two games.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Essendon by 10 points.

WEST COAST v COLLINGWOOD (Optus Stadium, Sunday 1.35pm local time)
Undoubtedly the match of the round, this contest promises to be an absolute cracker between two premiership contenders. The Eagles’ mojo is well and truly back – with three wins on the trot, they’ve recovered well from their 1-3 start and look like they’re building another meaningful assault on a flag. The Magpies have also recovered well from their recent two-week slump with emphatic wins over Hawthorn and Geelong. However, the Magpies will now have to play most of the season without Jordan De Goey (finger), while the return of Luke Shuey (hamstring) looks set to further bolster West Coast’s line-up. The Magpies have been hit harder by injuries than the Eagles, but have managed them well. However, against a team which is close to full strength and has won four of its last five meetings, Collingwood will find it hard to secure a third win in a row.
RONNY’S TIP: West Coast by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 2 points.

MELBOURNE v BRISBANE (Metricon Stadium, Sunday 6.10pm local time)
The Demons are starting to play a much more fluent, direct brand of footy in the past few weeks, which has helped them secure impressive wins against Gold Coast and Hawthorn. But if they intend to make it three wins in a row against the premiership favourite, they’re going to have to take their game to another level. After an extraordinary fadeout against Geelong the previous week, the Lions flexed their considerable muscle on the weekend with a very impressive win over GWS at Giants Stadium – just a fortnight after dismantling top-of-the-table Port Adelaide. Melbourne has shown improvement recently, but Brisbane’s midfield and backline is far superior.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 26 points.

FREMANTLE v GEELONG (Optus Stadium, Monday 6.10pm local time)
The Dockers battled hard against West Coast last week, but were ultimately overwhelmed, and the absence of dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe seemed to play a significant role. And while Freo has a genuine home ground advantage this week, it will be a tough task to overcome a reliable Geelong side which seems to be in reasonable form. The Cats will be without Gary Ablett (personal reasons) and Joel Selwood (hamstring), but Mitch Duncan (hamstring) and Tom Stewart (collarbone) look set to return from injury. The Dockers will have a crack, as they have done for most of the year, but expect the experience and overall class of Geelong to prove decisive.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.

RONNY’S SEASON TOTAL: 37
ROCO’S SEASON TOTAL: 39