With apologies to our friends from outside Victoria, but if you've got a ticket to an AFL game this weekend, then chuck it in the bin. Go see Cars 2 or Bridsesmaids instead because the games are rubbish.

Freo v Gold Coast? Yawn. Adelaide v Sydney? Snooze. Brisbane v Port Adelaide? No thanks.

No. In a return to traditional values, all 10 Victorian sides play on home soil this weekend and in an added bonus, all the games mean something. A cracking weekend is on the cards and to get there, all you need is a Metcard.

It starts at Etihad Stadium on Friday night with the Western Bulldogs hosting Melbourne. Mathematically, the Dogs can make the finals but they pretty much have to run the table from here. In their favour is that the Demons, who are in the eight and therefore masters of their own destiny, have lost their last 10 clashes at Etihad Stadium.

Saturday afternoon at the MCG sees Richmond host Carlton. Prod any Tiger supporter about the team they most dislike and they'll usually tell you it is the Blues. The Tigers are coming together nicely in the midfield and forward of the ball, but they're deficient in the ruck and the key defensive posts.

Richmond blew a chance to storm into the eight with a loss to the Demons on Saturday; blow this one and their September hopes will start to dim. The Blues are in good shape, despite the loss to the Eagles. They just need some hardness in the midfield.

Saturday night at Etihad is getting all the headlines, with Essendon hosting Geelong. It will mark the first time Mark Thompson is in the Bomber coaches box, helping mastermind the defeat of the side he coached to a pair of premierships.

Perhaps "attempting" to mastermind is more apt. The Bombers have been cruelled by injury, whereas the Cats could welcome back six first-choice selections. Forget all the "it's just another game" talk from the Cats players, Thompson's abrupt departure still rankles and they'll surely be up for this.

Sunday afternoon and it's Collingwood and Hawthorn at the MCG. The Hawks have won five of their last six against the Magpies, but will have half their side missing because of injuries and suspension. Buddy is back and he has kicked 29 goals in his last five encounters against the Pies, but even if the Hawks have the gameplan to beat Collingwood's press, do they have the manpower? The Hawks might be happy just to stick close to the flag favourites and have another crack with a stronger team come September.

Finally, we have North Melbourne and St Kilda at Etihad. The Saints beat the Roos by a combined 156 points at the same venue last year - presumably part of the reason why, despite coming off four straight wins, North are again the underdogs. The punters obviously don't know about Drew Petrie, for now the best key forward in the competition. If he gets hold of Zac Dawson, it is game over.

So it's a great round, at least if you live in Melbourne. Get on the tram and get to the footy.