Carlton big man Tom De Koning takes a towering mark during the Blues’ thrilling semi-final win over Melbourne last year. Photo: AAP

CARLTON v MELBOURNE (MCG, Thursday 7:30pm)
For just the sixth time since the top eight was introduced 30 years ago, all top-eight teams will play each other this round, and a blockbuster weekend of football fittingly kicks off with probably the pick of the matches between the Blues and Demons. In a rematch of their epic semi-final, the top-four hopefuls head into this game with very different form lines. Melbourne reasserted its premiership credentials by handing Geelong its first loss of the season while Carlton is smarting from back-to-back defeats against the Cats and Magpies, having now lost three of its last four games. The Blues have been found at the stoppages where they ranked No.1 in the league for points for, but third-last for points against. And it’s fair to say their undermanned defence is starting to get found out, which is why the potential returns of Mitch McGovern (hamstring) and Caleb Marchbank (back) can’t come quick enough. Although they are sweating on the availability of Zac Williams (glute) who was subbed out last week. Small forward Jack Martin (hamstring) could also be back. As for the Demons, their volume of inside 50s might be more diminished this year, but they are far more methodical and thoughtful when going forward, and are looking very potent as a result. And the news keeps getting better for them with defender Jake Bowey set to return. Melbourne has been waiting for this match-up since September 15, and while it might have one day less recovery time, with its powerful midfield capable of matching Carlton’s, and its twin towers in defence Steven May and Jake Lever up to the task of stifling Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, the Demons should be able to exact some revenge for last year’s finals exit.
RONNY’S TIP: Melbourne by 15 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Melbourne by 6 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Melbourne by 11 points.

GEELONG v PORT ADELAIDE (Kardinia Park, Friday 7:10pm)
Ever since they smashed Essendon in Round 4, the Power’s form has been patchy, to say the least. Gritty wins over Freo and the Saints have been counterbalanced by extremely disappointing defeats to Collingwood and Adelaide. And life’s about to get even tougher with captain Connor Rozee (hamstring) out for at least one match and he will be joined on the sidelines by Lachie Jones (hamstring). Key defender Aliir Aliir (concussion) and forward Mitch Georgiades (knee) will both need to pass fitness tests, but Ollie Lord (leg/knee) has been given the all clear for his first game of 2024. After kicking a combined 16.34 in the past two games, including a diabolical 5.18 last week, you best believe the Power would’ve practiced their goalkicking a bit more this week. However, it will probably all be in vain, because they are up against one of the strongest teams of the first two months who will only be missing captain Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) and maybe Tanner Bruhn (shoulder).
RONNY’S TIP: Geelong by 25 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Geelong by 22 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Geelong by 23 points.

FREMANTLE v SYDNEY (Optus Stadium, Friday 6:20pm)
The third top-eight clash of the weekend, this match isn’t far off top billing for the round either considering the form these two sides are in. The Dockers have rediscovered their attacking mojo in recent weeks with impressive wins over the struggling Bulldogs and Tigers. But they’re going to find out just how legitimate their return to form has been when they host the ladder-leading Swans. Fresh from making the highly-regarded Giants look second-rate, Sydney is looking more and more like a premiership threat with each passing week. The Swans will have to make do without key defender Tom McCartin (concussion) but they’re looking so good at the moment, they should still be able to account for the Dockers over in Perth even if Sean Darcy (calf) and Sam Switkowski (concussion) are able to take their place in the Fremantle side.
RONNY’S TIP: Sydney by 16 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Sydney by 8 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Sydney by 11 points.

HAWTHORN v ST KILDA (Launceston, Saturday 1:45pm)
It took them two months, but the Hawks finally produced their best performance of the season with a gutsy upset seven-point win over the Bulldogs last week. The level of competitiveness that Hawthorn produced last round was common all through last year, even if it was a bottom-three team, but sorely lacking in 2024. If the Hawks can bring that level of fight more consistently, they will once again be a tricky proposition that cannot be taken lightly. But their ability to repeat the dose will depend largely on the availability of captain James Sicily who courageously played through both a dislocated shoulder and rolled ankle last week, especially with Mitch Lewis (knee) and Mabior Chol (wrist) still missing. Veteran sharpshooter Luke Breust is available, as is dashing defender Changkuoth Jiath. However, the Saints’ 3-5 scoreline doesn’t do justice to how hard they’ve been to play against this year and with Liam Henry (hamstring) set to return, they should be too good for Hawthorn.
RONNY’S TIP: St Kilda by 11 points.
ROCO’S TIP: St Kilda by 16 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: St Kilda by 5 points.

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ESSENDON v GWS (Marvel Stadium, Saturday 4:35pm)
The fourth and final instalment of the top-eight matches, and this promises to be a ripsnorter, too. The trajectory that the Dons and Power have gone on since Port Adelaide thumped the Bombers in Round 4 has been remarkable. While the Power have been hot and cold, Essendon has gone undefeated to produce its best start to a season since 2013. Brad Scott’s men have become one of the toughest and grittiest teams in the AFL, especially in the midfield, and their newfound mental strength has been a feature too. Their last three games have been decided by a combined total of nine points, yet none of them ended in defeat. They take on a GWS team that is still third, but, aside from its comprehensive win against Brisbane in Round 7, hasn’t been in all that convincing form over the past month. And if the Giants are just a bit off their game against the hungry Bombers in front of a packed Marvel Stadium, it could spell disaster for them. They will be without Callum Brown (suspension), while Tom Green (ankle) is in doubt, but Stephen Coniglio (knee) is set to return. Sam Draper (knee), Zach Reid (hamstring) and Jye Menzie (shoulder) could all return this week for Essendon, while Jye Caldwell (calf) will have to prove his fitness. Marvel Stadium is not a happy hunting ground for GWS, which has lost four of its last five games there, and the Bombers owe them one for their humiliating loss in Round 23 last year.
RONNY’S TIP: Essendon by 13 points.
ROCO’S TIP: GWS by 18 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: GWS by 15 points.

RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Saturday 7:30pm)
If the Bulldogs and their coach Luke Beveridge thought the blowtorch was on them this week after their stunning loss to Hawthorn, that will seem like a picnic if they back that up with a defeat against the struggling Tigers. Richmond has been doing it tough, having battled a massive injury list for most of the season, but it looks like it will get some form of reprieve with Dion Prestia (hamstring), Noah Balta (knee) and Jack Graham (hamstring) all pushing for returns this week. The timing couldn’t be any worse for the out-of-sorts Bulldogs who will be without champion on-baller Tom Liberatore (concussion) for an extended period. This has got banana skin written all over it for the Dogs, who have lost four of their last five games at the MCG. All doesn’t seem well at The Kennel and while on paper the Dogs should have few issues taking care of Richmond, one feels it will be a different story on the green stuff.
RONNY’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 1 point.
ROCO’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 28 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Western Bulldogs by 19 points.

GOLD COAST v NORTH MELBOURNE (TIO Stadium, Saturday 7pm)
After failing yet another test in their 14-year quest for legitimacy, there’s nothing surer than the Suns bouncing back this week against competition easybeats North Melbourne. We won’t learn much about Gold Coast up in the Top End, other than the fact it remains a team that can beat up on teams below or around it, but struggle to consistently match it with the best sides. Darwin has become a fortress for the Suns who have won their last four games there by an average of 40 points.
RONNY’S TIP: Gold Coast by 55 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Gold Coast by 20 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Gold Coast by 65 points.

COLLINGWOOD v WEST COAST (Marvel Stadium, Sunday 1pm)
It’s great to see the Eagles consistently competitive again, after two seasons from hell, but they’re going to need all the ticker they possess, and then some, to upset the black-and-white apple cart this week. The Magpies appear to be slowly but surely returning to their premiership best, and after going undefeated in their past five games, they find themselves on the edge of the top eight following a worrying 0-3 start to the year. The hits keep coming for Collingwood, with Brody Mihocek (hamstring) and Beau McCreery (concussion) joining Jordan De Goey (groin) and Tom Mitchell (appendix) on the sidelines, but it will still be too strong for West Coast which will be without two of its most in-form players, Jake Waterman (concussion) and Elliot Yeo (groin), who have been central to the Eagles’ return to respectability.
RONNY’S TIP: Collingwood by 32 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Collingwood by 32 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Collingwood by 27 points.

ADELAIDE v BRISBANE (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 3:30pm)
Fresh from recording their bravest win in Chris Fagan’s time, according to the Brisbane coach, the dust has settled and the Lions have been left to count the cost of a bruising encounter with the Suns. Brisbane will head to Adelaide without Lincoln McCarthy (knee), Darcy Gardiner (knee), Noah Answerth (concussion) and Brandon Starcevich (calf), who injured himself in the warm-up. It puts additional strain on Brisbane which was already without Zac Bailey (ankle), Keidean Coleman (knee), Will Ashcroft (knee), Deven Robertson (shoulder) and Tom Doedee (knee). It might just prove to be too much to overcome against an Adelaide side which appears to have flicked the switch on season 2024 in front of its home crowd.
RONNY’S TIP: Adelaide by 21 points.
ROCO’S TIP: Adelaide by 14 points.
ROCKET’S TIP: Adelaide by 19 points.

SEASON TOTALS
ROCO 47
RONNY 45
ROCKET 45

*all times are local