WEST COAST v MELBOURNE (PS, Thursday)

The relentless diet of AFL continues and, at the end of this weekend, there'll have been matches played on nine of the previous 11 days: enough to sate even the most serious footy glutton. These two teams had a bye last week so the quick turnaround won't affect them. But Melbourne had a massive win over Gold Coast the week before so they haven't had a decent hitout since April 10 and that might count against them - especially if it's hot in Perth. Also, the Demons haven't won at Subiaco (sorry, Paterson's Stadium) since 2002 - nine years and seven meetings ago. West Coast's form has been pretty good and they gave Hawthorn a good run for their money in Tasmania a fortnight ago. At home, with plenty of exciting young talent coming through including Darling, Naitanui and Gaff - and the surprise re-appearance of LeCras - they should be too good for the Dees.

BPL TIP: WC by 17 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: WC $1.65, Melb $2.15

SYDNEY SWANS v CARLTON (SCG, Friday)

The bad news for Sydney here is it's coming off a bye and no ‘bye' team this year has won a match the following round playing against a team which did not have the week off. For some reason, the break in routine seems to upset the players' rhythm and Gold Coast, Adelaide, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have all been afflicted. Swans coach John Longmire has already flagged changes for this game and it seems Tadhg Kennelly will make his first appearance for 2011 after three runs in the reserves. The Swans might also bring in Mark Seaby or Mike Pyke to counter Carlton's talls. The Blues have been sailing along nicely, with Marc Murphy and Chris Judd both in rare form, and their efforts have been aided by a much-improved defence, once their Achilles heel. Carlton nearly got over Sydney in last year's cracking elimination final; this time, though, they're better placed to get the job done.

TIP: Carlton by 19 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: Syd $1.75, Carl $2.00

NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE (ES, Saturday)

A big game between two of the season's big underachievers. North is winless and down on confidence, having lost to two teams it probably expected to beat: Richmond and West Coast. Port, meanwhile, will be desperate to atone for its effort last week when it became the first team to lose to Gold Coast. So expect them to come out snarling in a big way (and experienced campaigners Kane Cornes and Danyle Pearce to both get a recall). Roos skipper Brent Harvey is due to play his 306th game, to be equal second on the Roos' all-time list, while Chad Cornes will play his 235th game, to be equal third at Port. North must be due for a win although the TAB odds - $1.40 - flatter them. It was only a fortnight ago, after all, that Port beat Adelaide in Showdown XXX. If Drew Petrie can keep up last week's form, and the midfield (Andrew Swallow, you're excused) can extract the proverbial digit, North should finally get on the scoreboard - albeit narrowly.

TIP: North Melbourne by 7 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: NM $1.40, Port $2.80

RICHMOND v BRISBANE (MCG, Saturday)

After a miserable opening to the season, the Lions will welcome back one of their most influential players - damaging half-back Josh Drummond. Defender Matt Maguire is also a possible inclusion. Despite their long injury list, Brisbane only lost narrowly to Melbourne and St Kilda in their past two outings so their form hasn't been terrible. Richmond has lost Daniel Jackson to suspension - again, but will be buoyed by their opening win of the season against North Melbourne. It will be interesting to see how they react to being in the unusual position of strong favourites. (Oddly, these two teams have met just once at the MCG since 2001, and that was when the Lions won in 2009). But with Jack Riewoldt firing, Dustin Martin a youngster of genuine star quality, and the team's confidence brimming, the Tigers should be in no danger of dropping this one.

TIP: Richmond by 28 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: Rich $1.36, Bris $3.00

ADELAIDE v ST KILDA (AS, Saturday)

The Saints got on the board at last over the Easter weekend - but in a pretty unconvincing display against Brisbane. Something's just not clicking down there. It's as though the spirit which bound the team together so closely over the past four years has been fractured by the off-season, off-field shenanigans. But, if they want to be taken seriously, the Saints have to win games such as these. Justin Koschitzke looked absolutely lost last week in his first game back but will be better for the run, while Leigh Montagna was excellent and - importantly - Brendon Goddard and Adam Schneider were back among the best. The Crows are always a tall order at home and are coming of a heartening performance against Carlton. But the Saints' form is not as bad as it first appears - the Essendon loss was the only real shocker - and the anticipated wet weather in Adelaide this weekend might suit their stronger (and slower) bodies, and make the tempo of the game easier to control.

TIP: St Kilda by 8 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: Adel $1.72, St K $2.05

ESSENDON v GOLD COAST SUNS (ES, Sunday)

A major reality check looms here for the Suns, fresh from their maiden AFL win. They will give plenty of cheek early - buoyed by that success against Port - but then get brushed aside as the match wears on. (The absence of the suspended Nathan Bock in defence will hurt.) Still, it will be interesting to watch the continued development of young talent such as Swallow, Dixon, McKenzie, Bennell and Rising Star nominee Matera. Despite defeats to Sydney and Collingwood, Essendon has been in really solid form - and their hunger for the contest must gladden the hearts of Bomber supporters. Coach James Hird has forecast several changes to freshen up the side with some sore bodies coming out of the Collingwood game. Andrew Welsh, for example, might make his first appearance of the season. Essendon should win well - and, in the interests of player protection, ease up on the line.

TIP: Essendon by 59 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: Ess $1.03, GC $10.00

COLLINGWOOD V WESTERN BULLDOGS (MCG, Sunday)

Perhaps the match of the round, at twilight on Sunday, and a chance for the Bulldogs to prove they're a legitimate contender. Full-forward Barry Hall is likely to miss with ankle soreness, having been severely restricted against Fremantle on Monday, so the Dogs will need to find another avenue to goal. Given that CHB Tom Williams is in doubt with a back injury and ruckman Ben Hudson has a sore ankle, the Dogs could be stretched for key-position options against the Pies. So not an ideal position to be in when taking on the league yardstick. The Pies, of course, just keep going from strength to strength, their rotation of quality midfielders raffling the ball between them each week, and key forwards Cloke and Dawes benefiting from that dominance. Collingwood won their three games against the Bullies last year, culminating in the 10-goal qualifying final romp, and should continue that run this week. This will be Rodney Eade's 300th game as coach - having been at the helm for 152 games at Sydney - but it's unlikely he'll have much to celebrate on Sunday night.

TIP: Collingwood by 37 points
TAB Sportsbet odds: Coll $1.15, WB $5.00