Marcus Bontempelli gets a handball away during the Western Bulldogs-Carlton clash last season. Photo: AFL MEDIA

RICHMOND v GEELONG (MCG, Friday 7.20pm local time)
The Tigers eased the mounting pressure on themselves by belatedly overcoming the challenge from 17th-placed West Coast last weekend after a two-and-a-half-quarter arm wrestle. But this week they go from one extreme to the other as they have to contend with a legitimate premiership contender in Geelong. After a sluggish opening three weeks, the Cats are well and truly back in business having now won five games on the trot to sit just a game outside the top four. All of those obituaries that were written about them after Round 3 look downright foolish now, but then again, Geelong has made its doomsayers look foolish for well over a decade. It’s one of the Cats’ favourite pastimes. Although Geelong will be missing superstar captain Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring), as well as the in-form Brad Close (suspension), it should have far too much class for the Tigers. And for those of you out there who find booing distasteful, you probably shouldn’t tune into this one, because the Richmond faithful are going to give Geelong defender Tom Stewart an earful all night after he KOed Tigers midfielder Dion Prestia last year.
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 33 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 26 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 27 points

WEST COAST v GOLD COAST (Optus Stadium, Friday 6.40pm local time)
The Friday night double-header is back to free up as much time as possible on Sunday for footy-loving families around the country to celebrate Mother’s Day. Suffice to say, this isn’t exactly a blockbuster prime time affair. With just a combined four wins from 16 games between these two sides, much of the coverage will be hoovered up by Richmond and Geelong, even taking into account how poorly the Tigers are travelling. When you put aside their thumping loss to Carlton a fortnight ago, the injury-ravaged Eagles have actually been competitive for large chunks of matches this year. The problem is, they just cannot string together four quarters, and that fact should play right into the hands of the Suns who could so easily be 5-3 had they not dropped winnable games against Fremantle and Melbourne. Gold Coast has already beaten West Coast in Perth last year, so it knows how to get the job done across the Nullarbor, and should be too good for the struggling cellar dweller.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: West Coast by 2 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 33 points.

SYDNEY v FREMANTLE (SCG, Saturday 1.45pm local time)
Is it too early to say that this match is an elimination final? Perhaps. But both teams are 3-5 with the Swans 11th on the ladder and Freo 12th. The loser would probably have to win nine of its last 14 games to make the finals. That would require a dramatic form reversal. And while the Swans would possibly be capable of achieving that, the faith in the Dockers doing so would be far less unwavering. However, Sydney has lost three games in a row for the first time since 2020, and they didn’t make the finals that year. After looking like world beaters in the opening fortnight, the Swans have fallen in a massive hole, losing five of their last six games, including two final-quarter capitulations at home against Port Adelaide and GWS. Given this match is also being staged on the Swans’ dunghill, Fremantle will surely take confidence from Sydney’s last two performances there. And while John Longmire’s team will have to make do without Tom McCartin, who has again succumbed to concussion, and ruckman Peter Ladhams (arm), nominal No.1 ruck Tom Hickey has made a timely recovery from a calf injury to be named for his first game of 2023. Longmire’s men have been a shadow of their 2022 selves, but surely this will be a case of third time lucky for them at the SCG – a ground where Freo have not beaten the Swans in five meetings since 2011.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 10 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 9 points.

NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE (Blundstone Arena, Saturday 2.10pm local time)
And following on from the Tom Stewart boo fest on Friday night, the encore act will see Port Adelaide youngster Jason Horne-Francis come up against his old team North Melbourne, who he left in unceremonious circumstances to say the least after just one year at Arden Street after being taken with the No.1 pick. While this match is being played in Tasmania, away from the Kangaroos’ heartland supporters, you can bet your bottom dollar that Horne-Francis will still cop it from North’s Hobart chapter. But that’s probably the extent of the interest that this match will generate. The Kangaroos are clearly battling to be competitive for a fourth consecutive year and they come up against one of the in-form teams in the league, fresh from its fifth win in a row. Port Adelaide has conquered far bigger challenges this year, namely St Kilda (away), Brisbane, the Bulldogs and Sydney (away), so North really should not pose too much of a problem.
RONNY’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 36 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Port Adelaide by 35 points.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

HAWTHORN v MELBOURNE (MCG, Saturday 4.35pm local time)
This is another match which on paper should be one-sided, but the Demons did get the fright of their lives against Gold Coast last week in a match they were expected to win comfortably. However, the Suns are further along in their development than the Hawks are, and while Hawthorn has shown spirit on occasion this year, namely against North, GWS and Adelaide, it is far too often beaten badly, and against a flag threat, with premiership stars Michael Hibberd and Charlie Spargo back in the fold, the last-placed Hawks look set to cop yet another hiding.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 52 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 42 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 41 points.

BRISBANE v ESSENDON (Gabba, Saturday 7.25pm local time)
The Bombers have been competitive in each of their first eight games this season, but they look headed for their first heavy defeat of 2023. Without three key pillars of their backline in Jordan Ridley (concussion), Jayden Laverde (shoulder) and Jake Kelly (concussion), and two defensive back-up options in Zach Reid (hamstring) and James Stewart (foot) also unavailable, the Dons look completely exposed against one of the most formidable forward lines in the competition featuring Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood, Charlie Cameron, Jack Gunston and Lincoln McCarthy. Chuck in the absence of Essendon star midfielder Darcy Parish (calf), and it really looms as a tough night at the office for Brad Scott’s side. Not that they needed any more advantages, but the Lions also welcome back Dayne Zorko just for good measure. Brisbane comfortably.
RONNY’S TIP: Brisbane by 44 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Brisbane by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Brisbane by 35 points.

CARLTON v WESTERN BULLDOGS (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 7.30pm local time)
Arguably the match of the round, this clash promises to be an absolute belter. The Dogs are seventh on the ladder, just two points clear of the Blues in eighth. But unlike Carlton, the Doggies seem to be on the right track, having won five of their last six games. Granted, they haven’t played all that much in that period, but a win over Brisbane and a narrow loss to Port Adelaide indicate they’re a legitimate finals threat. The Blues, meanwhile, are experiencing a mini crisis, having lost three of their last four games, all of which were against fellow finals aspirants St Kilda, Adelaide and Brisbane. If ever they needed evidence that, as it stands, they are off the pace, that is it. And if they suffer another defeat to a team in that same bracket, then the already restless and impatient Carlton supporter base will be apoplectic by approximately 10pm on Saturday. The Blues did a great job of winning the ball against the Saints and Lions, but it’s what they do it with it thereafter which is the massive issue – especially their delivery to star forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay. The Bulldogs midfield prides itself on contested possessions and clearances, and if they manage to get on top in both of those departments, which could easily happen with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae all at the coalface, then they’re going to be hard to stop, even without Adam Treloar (hamstring). Tim English has also been in supreme form in the ruck and could prove too much for Carlton’s Marc Pittonet.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 9 points.

ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 12.40pm local time)
This is the other contender for match of the round. If it isn’t Carlton-Bulldogs, this certainly is. The Crows might be sitting 10th on the ladder, but they’re not your average 4-4 team. They admirably took it right up to the Cats in Geelong last week, and the week prior, really should’ve beaten Collingwood, but fell by a point. Meanwhile, the formline of the Saints has been extremely consistent over the opening two months with their only two losses coming by a combined 13 points. However, this match represents their first match against a non-Victorian team on its home deck for the season, and it’s going to be a hell of a test for them. Adelaide has already taken a couple of decent scalps at its home ground in Port Adelaide and Carlton, so clearly has no issue mixing it with top-eight teams, and its close shave against the ladder-leading Magpies will only embolden it. If the Crows manage to kick straight, like they did last week, as well as against the Blues, Dockers and Power in convincing victories, then they’ll be well on the way to claiming another impressive scalp.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 4 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 11 points.

COLLINGWOOD v GWS (MCG, Sunday 4.40pm local time)
Who is going to stop these Magpies? Unless you’re the Lions in Brisbane, toppling Collingwood has proven to be the ultimate challenge in the opening third of the season. Craig McRae’s men have a strong affinity with the MCG too, having won 15 of their last 16 games there. And while GWS did give them a scare there last year (let’s be honest, who didn’t during that period before ultimately losing at the death?), it’s going to take a monumental effort from Adam Kingsley’s side to take down the ladder-leading premiership favourites, even with inspirational captain Toby Greene back in the line-up.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 36 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 25 points.

SEASON TOTALS
RONNY 50
ROCKET 46
ROCO 44