As it does every year, the release of the upcoming AFL fixture has revealed some big early winners — even for one of the 2026 grand finalists. But, for every victor, there’s a loser just as heavy.
Foxfooty.com.au breaks down every AFL club’s 2027 fixture, with analysis of the pros, cons and a grade — with a higher grade meaning an easier draw.
Fox Footy’s experts analyse the 2027 AFL draw in a FIXTURE ON FOX special! Watch on Fox Footy and stream via Kayo from 5pm AEDT | Get Kayo now >
AFL FIXTURE 2027: CLUB-BY-CLUB DRAW AND ANALYSIS
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ADELAIDE CROWS
Round 1: Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval (Saturday March 20, 4.15pm)
Round 2: Fremantle v Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium (Friday March 26, 7.15pm)
Round 3: Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 3, 4.35pm)
Round 4: Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval (Thursday April 8, 7.40pm)
Round 5: Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 17, 1.15pm)
Round 6: Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows at the SCG (Friday April 23, 7.40pm)
Round 7: Melbourne v Adelaide Crows at TIO Traeger Park (Saturday May 1, 1.15pm)
Round 8: Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows at Adelaide (Friday May 7, 8.10pm)
Round 9: Adelaide Crows v Geelong at Adelaide Oval (Thursday May 13, 7.30pm)
Round 10: Essendon v Adelaide Crows at the MCG (Sunday May 23, 3.15pm)
Round 11: BYE
Round 12: Richmond v Adelaide Crows at the MCG (Saturday June 5, 1.35pm)
Round 13: Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Thursday June 10, 7.30pm)
Round 14: Adelaide Crows v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Sunday June 20, 3.15pm)
Round 15: Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday June 26, 4.15pm)
Round 16: West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium (Friday July 2, 8.10pm)
Round 17: Adelaide Crows v St Kilda at Adelaide Oval
Round 18: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium
Round 19: Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Round 20: Carlton v Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: Adelaide Crows v Richmond at Adelaide Oval
Round 22: Collingwood v Adelaide Crows at the MCG
Round 23: Adelaide Crows v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval
Round 24: Geelong v Adelaide Crows at GMHBA Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 7th-hardest
Pros: After a 0-3 start to their 2026 campaign, the Crows will absolutely welcome having four of their first five games for next season at Adelaide Oval. They’re far from easy match-ups, but it goes without saying that they’d much rather be playing the likes of the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Gold Coast on their home turf in consecutive weeks. For every tough stretch they have will come an ‘easier’ one, and for the Crows, that will be through the middle of the year.
Cons: Unsurprisingly given they finished in the top third of the ladder this year, Adelaide’s double-ups aren’t favourable. Two matches against Fremantle, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs will pose a major challenge, while Melbourne and cross-town rivals Port Adelaide won’t be easybeats either. Additionally, the bookends of their home-and-away season look particularly tough, with their final three games against Collingwood, Fremantle and Geelong. The Crows only travel to Melbourne twice in the first 17 rounds, before playing four of their last seven matches for the season in Victoria.
Grade: B-
BRISBANE LIONS
Round 1: Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions at the MCG (Friday March 19, 7.50pm)
Round 2: Brisbane Lions v Collingwood at the Gabba (Thursday March 25, 7.50pm)
Round 3: Carlton v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium (Friday April 2, 7.50pm)
Round 4: Adelaide Crows v Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval (Thursday April 8, 7.40pm)
Round 5: Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants at the Gabba (Sunday April 18, 6.10pm)
Round 6: Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles at the Gabba (Saturday April 24, 1.15pm)
Round 7: Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans at the Gabba (Thursday April 29 at 7.30pm)
Round 8: Fremantle v Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium (Sunday May 9, 7.20pm)
Round 9: Brisbane Lions v St Kilda at the Gabba (Sunday May 16, 12.30pm)
Round 10: Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval (Saturday May 22, 1.15pm)
Round 11: BYE
Round 12: Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba (Saturday June 5, 4.35pm)
Round 13: Geelong v Brisbane Lions at GMHBA Stadium (Friday June 11, 7.40pm)
Round 14: Brisbane Lions v Richmond at the Gabba (Saturday June 19, 4.35pm)
Round 15: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions at the SCG (Friday June 25, 7.40pm)
Round 16: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle at the Gabba (Thursday July 1, 7.30pm)
Round 17: Collingwood v Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Round 18: Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba
Round 19: Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium
Round 20: Brisbane Lions v Essendon at the Gabba
Round 21: St Kilda v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium
Round 22: Brisbane Lions v Geelong at the Gabba
Round 23: Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions at People First Stadium
Round 24: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): Hardest
Pros: The Lions have a great chance to build late-season momentum on their home ground, with games against Richmond, North Melbourne and Essendon at the Gabba between Rounds 14 and 20. In fact Brisbane has to travel outside of Queensland just twice in the final seven rounds: The Round 19 match against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, followed by a trip to St Kilda in Round 21 at the same venue. And finally they got some Gather Round prime time, with the Lions to face Adelaide on a Thursday night to begin the round.
Cons: It’s not like it’s unexpected, but we have the Lions down for the hardest 2027 draw based on double-up opponents, making its four-peat hopes particularly challenging. The Lions play 2026 top-five teams Fremantle, Sydney and Geelong twice, while you could argue other double-up opponents Gold Coast and St Kilda will be in finals contention next year. Brisbane begins the season against Hawthorn at the MCG then hosts Collingwood on Easter Thursday, before facing Carlton at Marvel Stadium and Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. That’s a difficult first four rounds against top-10 teams from last season. The early-season run is particularly demanding from a travel perspective, with trips to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth all before the bye.
Grade: C-
CARLTON
Round 1: Richmond v Carlton at the MCG (Saturday March 20, 12.35pm)
Round 2: North Melbourne v Carlton at Marvel Stadium (Friday March 26, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Carlton v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium (Friday April 2, 7.50pm)
Round 4: Carlton v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 10, 1.35pm)
Round 5: Carlton v Collingwood at the MCG (Thursday April 15, 7.30pm)
Round 6: Port Adelaide v Carlton at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 24, 8.10pm)
Round 7: Hawthorn v Carlton at the MCG (Friday April 30, 7.40pm)
Round 8: Carlton v Geelong at the MCG (Thursday May 6, 7.30pm)
Round 9: Carlton v Western Bulldogs at the MCG (Sunday May 16, 3.15pm)
Round 10: Gold Coast Suns v Carlton at TIO Stadium (Sunday May 23, 6.10pm)
Round 11: Carlton v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 30, 6.10pm)
Round 12: West Coast Eagles v Carlton at Optus Stadium (Sunday June 6, 8.10pm)
Round 13: Carlton v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday June 13, 7.20pm)
Round 14: BYE
Round 15: St Kilda v Carlton at Marvel Stadium (Sunday June 27, 3.15pm)
Round 16: Carlton v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday July 3, 7.35pm)
Round 17: GWS Giants v Carlton at ENGIE Stadium
Round 18: Carlton v Melbourne at the MCG
Round 19: Geelong v Carlton at GMHBA Stadium
Round 20: Carlton v Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: Collingwood v Carlton at the MCG
Round 22: Sydney Swans v Carlton at the SCG
Round 23: Carlton v Port Adelaide at the MCG
Round 24: Carlton v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 9th-easiest
Pros: In addition to their usual Round 1 match-up against Richmond (albeit in a different timeslot), the Blues will get an early crack against North Melbourne the following week and hope they can start their season 2-0. Four matches in five weekends at the MCG across rounds 5-9 are also a nice early season stabiliser, while they’ll also only leave Victoria once after Round 17 for a duel with Sydney at the SCG. And from a prime perspective, the Blues are big winners early doors too — playing five of their first eight matches on a Thursday or Friday.
Cons: As insinuated with the ninth-easiest fixture in the competition, Josh Fraser’s side has been given a middling draw. They’ll head down the highway to Geelong for the first time in seven seasons in Round 19 against the Cats in a tough task, while Round 10 will be tricky facing Gold Coast at their TIO Stadium fortress. Rounds 7-11 look incredible tough; all against genuine top four and premiership contenders. Their double up matches are neither here nor there, with winnable fixtures against GWS, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide among them.
Grade: B+
Blues duo banned for start of 27′ season | 02:15
COLLINGWOOD
Round 1: St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG (Saturday March 20, 7.40pm)
Round 2: Brisbane Lions v Collingwood at the Gabba (Thursday March 25, 7.50pm)
Round 3: Collingwood v Fremantle at the MCG (Thursday April 1, 7.30pm)
Round 4: Sydney Swans v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval (Friday April 9, 7.40pm)
Round 5: Carlton v Collingwood at the MCG (Thursday April 15, 7.30pm)
Round 6: Collingwood v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday April 25, 3.15pm)
Round 7: West Coast Eagles v Collingwood at Optus Stadium (Saturday May 1, 7.35pm)
Round 8: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium (Friday May 7, 7.40pm)
Round 9: North Melbourne v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 16, 6.10pm)
Round 10: Collingwood v Richmond at the MCG (Saturday May 22, 7.35pm)
Round 11: Port Adelaide v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval (Saturday May 29, 7.35pm)
Round 12: Collingwood v Hawthorn at the MCG (Friday June 4, 7.40pm)
Round 13: Melbourne v Collingwood at the MCG (Monday June 14, 3.15pm)
Round 14: BYE
Round 15: Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood at People First Stadium (Saturday June 26, 7.35pm)
Round 16: Collingwood v GWS Giants at the MCG (Saturday July 3, 4.35pm)
Round 17: Collingwood v Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Round 18: Collingwood v Geelong at the MCG
Round 19: Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG
Round 20: Fremantle v Collingwood at Optus Stadium
Round 21: Collingwood v Carlton at the MCG
Round 22: Collingwood v Adelaide Crows at the MCG
Round 23: Collingwood v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: Richmond v Collingwood at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 4th-hardest
Pros: As expected, the Magpies have a strong run of marquee games, with matches against Brisbane (Round 2), Fremantle (Round 3), Carlton (Round 5), Western Bulldogs (Round 8) and Hawthorn (Round 12) in prime-time slots, plus the traditional Anzac Day fixture against Essendon. Collingwood also has a strong chance to build momentum through the middle and back-end of the season, with just one interstate trip in their final nine games, with seven of those matches at the MCG. While the Pies have to face Grand Finalists Brisbane and Fremantle twice, they only have to play top-seven teams Sydney, Hawthorn, Geelong, Adelaide and Melbourne once in the home and away season.
Cons: The key question is how Collingwood will fare during the early start of the season. It’s a tough start for Craig McRae’s men, opening their season against St Kilda before facing reigning premiers Brisbane, reigning runners-up Fremantle, reigning preliminary finalist Sydney and the emerging Carlton in succession. The Pies also must travel to Perth twice during the season.
Grade: A
Dominoes to fall at Collingwood? | 07:39
ESSENDON
Round 1: Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday March 21, 3.15pm)
Round 2: Essendon v Sydney Swans at the MCG (Sunday March 28, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Hawthorn v Essendon at the MCG (Saturday April 3, 7.45pm)
Round 4: Essendon v North Melbourne at Norwood Oval (Sunday April 11, 12.30pm)
Round 5: Essendon v Geelong at the MCG (Sunday April 18, 12.30pm)
Round 6: Collingwood v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday April 25, 3.15pm)
Round 7: Essendon v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 1, 4.15pm)
Round 8: Gold Coast Suns v Essendon at People First Stadium (Saturday May 8, 1.15pm)
Round 9: Richmond v Essendon at the MCG (Friday May 14, 7.45pm)
Round 10: Essendon v Adelaide Crows at the MCG (Sunday May 23, 3.15pm)
Round 11: GWS Giants v Essendon at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 29, 4.15pm)
Round 12: Essendon v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday June 6, 3.15pm)
Round 13: Carlton v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday June 13, 7.20pm)
Round 14: Essendon v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday June 19, 7.35pm)
Round 15: BYE
Round 16: Essendon v Richmond at Optus Stadium (Sunday July 4, 3.15pm)
Round 17: West Coast Eagles v Essendon at Optus Stadium
Round 18: Essendon v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium
Round 19: Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG
Round 20: Brisbane Lions v Essendon at the Gabba
Round 21: Essendon v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium
Round 22: Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval
Round 23: Geelong v Essendon at GMHBA Stadium
Round 24: Essendon v West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): Easiest
Pros: Bombers fans, you have the easiest fixture of anyone in 2027! That metric is defined by their double-up fixtures against the likes of Richmond, West Coast and North Melbourne, while Geelong are the only top eight team from 2026 they’ll have to face twice. In his first season at the helm, Mark McVeigh will only have to leave Melbourne once before Round 8 — and that’s to play North Melbourne in Gather Round.
Cons: While their fixture is as favourable as they can come, Essendon will rightfully only play one Friday night game in the first 16 rounds. That fixture is their annual clash against Richmond for ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’. Five of their first six games of 2027 will be on a Sunday too, taking them further off broadway. Rounds 5-8 all come against top four contenders, but other than that, it’s hard to point out too many flaws given their horror 2026.
Grade: A+
FREMANTLE
Round 1: Fremantle v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium (Thursday March 18, 8.10pm)
Round 2: Fremantle v Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium (Friday March 26, 7.15pm)
Round 3: Collingwood v Fremantle at the MCG (Thursday April 1, 7.30pm)
Round 4: Fremantle v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 10, 7.45pm)
Round 5: Fremantle v West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium (Friday April 16, 8.10pm)
Round 6: Fremantle v St Kilda at Optus Stadium (Sunday April 25, 8.10pm)
Round 7: Essendon v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 1, 4.15pm)
Round 8: Fremantle v Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium (Sunday May 9, 7.20pm)
Round 9: GWS Giants v Fremantle at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 15, 1.15pm)
Round 10: Fremantle v Melbourne at Optus Stadium (Thursday May 20, 8.10pm)
Round 11: Carlton v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 30, 6.10pm)
Round 12: North Melbourne v Fremantle at Optus Stadium (Saturday June 5, 7.35pm)
Round 13: BYE
Round 14: Hawthorn v Fremantle at the MCG (Thursday June 17, 7.30pm)
Round 15: Fremantle v Geelong at Optus Stadium (Thursday June 24, 8.10pm)
Round 16: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle at the Gabba (Thursday July 1, 7.30pm)
Round 17: Fremantle v Richmond at Optus Stadium
Round 18: Port Adelaide v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval
Round 19: West Coast Eagles v Fremantle at Optus Stadium
Round 20: Fremantle v Collingwood at Optus Stadium
Round 21: Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle at People First Stadium
Round 22: Fremantle v GWS Giants at Optus Stadium
Round 23: Adelaide Crows v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval
Round 24: Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 4th-hardest
Pros: A dream start at Optus Stadium, with four of the Dockers’ first six games in Perth – and one of their interstate trips to Adelaide being Gather Round. Given the Dockers finished the 2026 regular rounds as minor premiers, it’s an excellent opportunity to build early-season momentum. They also have back-to-back Optus Stadium games three times throughout the year. The Dockers also have several winnable games in their opening 12 rounds, with matches scheduled against West Coast, St Kilda and North Melbourne, as well as home games against Adelaide and Melbourne. Freo also has a strong run of national exposure with early Thursday-night and Friday-night games, including its season opener against the Western Bulldogs, followed by Adelaide (Round 2), Collingwood (Round 3), West Coast (Round 5) and Brisbane (Round 8).
Cons: Fremantle has a tough run of double-up opponents: Brisbane, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Collingwood and the Giants. The first four of those teams all finished in the top nine in 2026. The Grand Final rematch against the Lions in Round 8 is the first of a tricky run around the Dockers’ mid-season break. They face the Giants (Round 9 at ENGIE Stadium), Melbourne (Round 10) and Carlton (Round 11 at Marvel Stadium) before taking on North Melbourne before their bye. After that, they take on Hawthorn (Round 13 at the MCG), Geelong (Round 14) and Brisbane (Round 15 at the Gabba). Still, the Dockers should be well placed to contend for another top-four finish if they make the most of their early home games.
Grade: A
GEELONG
Round 1: Sydney Swans v Geelong at the SCG (Wednesday March 17, 7.30pm)
Round 2: Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG (Monday March 29, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Geelong v Richmond at GMHBA Stadium (Sunday April 4, 12.30pm)
Round 4: St Kilda v Geelong at Barossa Park (Sunday April 11, 3.15pm)
Round 5: Essendon v Geelong at the MCG (Sunday April 18, 12.30pm)
Round 6: Geelong v North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday April 24, 4.15pm)
Round 7: GWS Giants v Geelong at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 1, 4.35pm)
Round 8: Carlton v Geelong at the MCG (Thursday May 6, 7.30pm)
Round 9: Adelaide Crows v Geelong at Adelaide Oval (Thursday May 13, 7.30pm)
Round 10: Geelong v West Coast Eagles at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday May 22, 4.15pm)
Round 11: Geelong v Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium (Friday May 28, 7.40pm)
Round 12: BYE
Round 13: Geelong v Brisbane Lions at GMHBA Stadium (Friday June 11, 7.40pm)
Round 14: Western Bulldogs v Geelong at Marvel Stadium (Friday June 18, 7.40pm)
Round 15: Fremantle v Geelong at Optus Stadium (Thursday June 24, 8.10pm)
Round 16: Geelong v Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday July 3, 4.15pm)
Round 17: Hawthorn v Geelong at the MCG
Round 18: Collingwood v Geelong at the MCG
Round 19: Geelong v Carlton at GMHBA Stadium
Round 20: St Kilda v Geelong at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: Geelong v Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium
Round 22: Brisbane Lions v Geelong at the Gabba
Round 23: Geelong v Essendon at GMHBA Stadium
Round 24: Geelong v Adelaide Crows at GMHBA Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 6th-hardest
Pros: The Cats have ample opportunities to bank wins at GMHBA Stadium, with teams like Richmond, North Melbourne, West Coast, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and Essendon and Adelaide all scheduled to visit throughout the season. Three of their final four home and away games are also at GMHBA Stadium, giving them a great chance to finish the season strong. Geelong also has a strong suite of high-profile games, including the traditional Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn, Thursday night games against Carlton and Adelaide and Friday night matches against Melbourne, Brisbane and Western Bulldogs.
Cons: Geelong faces Hawthorn, Brisbane and Adelaide twice – a challenging trio given all three finished in the top six in 2026. The Cats also have repeat meetings against Carlton and St Kilda, who should be finals contenders next year. They also have a challenging post-bye schedule against Brisbane (Round 13), Western Bulldogs (Round 14) and Fremantle (Round 15). Then after facing the Suns at GMHBA, Geelong returns to the MCG for games against Hawthorn (Round 17), Collingwood (Round 18) and Carlton (Round 19). The Cats arguably cost themselves a top-four spot in 2026 due to patchy form around their mid-season bye, so they won’t want to repeat that stretch next year.
Grade: A-
GOLD COAST SUNS
Round 1: West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium (Sunday March 21, 6.10pm)
Round 2: Gold Coast Suns v Richmond at People First Stadium (Saturday March 27, 5.10pm)
Round 3: Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne at People First Stadium (Sunday April 4, 3.15pm)
Round 4: Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants at Barossa Park (Saturday April 10, 12.35pm)
Round 5: Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 17, 1.15pm)
Round 6: Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn at People First Stadium (Thursday April 22, 7.30pm)
Round 7: Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns at Mars Stadium (Sunday May 2, 12.30pm)
Round 8: Gold Coast Suns v Essendon at People First Stadium (Saturday May 8, 1.15pm)
Round 9: Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns at the MCG (Saturday May 15, 1.45pm)
Round 10: Gold Coast Suns v Carlton at TIO Stadium (Sunday May 23, 6.10pm)
Round 11: BYE
Round 12: Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba (Saturday June 5, 4.35pm)
Round 13: Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide at People First Stadium (Saturday June 12, 1.15pm)
Round 14: GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns at ENGIE Stadium (Sunday June 20, 5.10pm)
Round 15: Gold Coast Suns v Collingwood at People First Stadium (Saturday June 26, 7.35pm)
Round 16: Geelong v Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday July 3, 4.15pm)
Round 17: Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs at People First Stadium
Round 18: Hawthorn v Gold Coast Suns at UTAS Stadium
Round 19: Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda at People First Stadium
Round 20: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns at the SCG
Round 21: Gold Coast Suns v Fremantle at People First Stadium
Round 22: North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium
Round 23: Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions at People First Stadium
Round 24: Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 8th-hardest
Pros: Christmas has come early for the Gold Coast Suns, or at least it will at the start of their 2027 campaign. Their first three matches are against West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne, with the latter two also at home. Throw in their Gather Round fixture against GWS in the Barossa, and there’s absolutely a world they start their year 4-0. After travelling to Perth to play Fremantle for three straight seasons, they’ve managed to avoid the longest trip in football against this year’s grand finalists.
Cons: The first half of their fixture looks well-balanced to the naked eye, but come Round 15 they’ll need to hit their straps hard. Consecutive matches against Collingwood, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn will be tough, before facing Sydney, Fremantle and Brisbane inside their final five rounds. Maybe with the exception of Port Adelaide, there isn’t an obvious win to come out of their six double-up fixtures. A Round 6 Thursday night home clash with Hawthorn is their only prime time fixture in the first 16 rounds. It also remains to be seen whether ending their Darwin home-game partnership will hurt them, playing there only once in 2027.
Grade: C
“They’ve got everything they need!” | 03:28
GWS GIANTS
Round 1: Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval (Saturday March 20, 4.15pm)
Round 2: GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles at Manuka Oval (Saturday March 27, 2.10pm)
Round 3: Sydney Swans v GWS Giants at the SCG (Friday April 2, 7.15pm)
Round 4: Gold Coast Suns v GWS Giants at Barossa Park (Saturday April 10, 12.35pm)
Round 5: Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants at the Gabba (Sunday April 18, 6.10pm)
Round 6: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval (Sunday April 25, 12.15pm)
Round 7: GWS Giants v Geelong at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 1, 4.35pm)
Round 8: Hawthorn v GWS Giants at UTAS Stadium (Sunday May 9, 12.30pm)
Round 9: GWS Giants v Fremantle at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 15, 1.15pm)
Round 10: St Kilda v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 23, 12.30pm)
Round 11: GWS Giants v Essendon at ENGIE Stadium (Saturday May 29, 4.15pm)
Round 12: BYE
Round 13: Richmond v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium (Saturday June 12, 4.15pm)
Round 14: GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns at ENGIE Stadium (Sunday June 20, 5.10pm)
Round 15: GWS Giants v Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval (Sunday June 27, 5.10pm)
Round 16: Collingwood v GWS Giants at the MCG (Saturday July 3, 4.35pm)
Round 17: GWS Giants v Carlton at ENGIE Stadium
Round 18: Essendon v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium
Round 19: GWS Giants v Melbourne at ENGIE Stadium
Round 20: Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants at Mars Stadium
Round 21: GWS Giants v North Melbourne at ENGIE Stadium
Round 22: Fremantle v GWS Giants at Optus Stadium
Round 23: GWS Giants v Sydney Swans at ENGIE Stadium
Round 24: Carlton v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 5th-hardest
Pros: There’s plenty to like about the Giants’ fixture after their Round 12 bye. They face Richmond (Round 13), Gold Coast at ENGIE Stadium (Round 14) and Port Adelaide in Canberra (Round 15) in a promising three-game stretch. They also face 2026 wooden spooners Essendon twice in eight rounds, while repeat meetings with Gold Coast, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs offer opportunities to bank wins against sides that finished in the middle of the ladder last season.
Cons: A demanding opening nine rounds includes away trips to Adelaide (Round 1), Sydney (Round 3), Brisbane (Round 5) and Hawthorn (Round 8), alongside tough assignments against the Western Bulldogs (Round 6), Geelong (Round 7) and Fremantle (Round 9). The Giants could come under early pressure, particularly if they drop games against West Coast or Gold Coast between those tougher match-ups. They also face preliminary finalists Sydney and minor premiers Fremantle twice. The venue schedule is unusually varied across their 23 games: They’ll play at 11 different grounds, including Barossa Park, UTAS Stadium and Mars Stadium.
Grade: D
Lachie Whitfield completes Carlton move | 00:33
HAWTHORN
Round 1: Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions at the MCG (Friday March 19, 7.50pm)
Round 2: Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG (Monday March 29, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Hawthorn v Essendon at the MCG (Saturday April 3, 7.45pm)
Round 4: Fremantle v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 10, 7.45pm)
Round 5: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium (Saturday April 17, 7.35pm)
Round 6: Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn at People First Stadium (Thursday April 22, 7.30pm)
Round 7: Hawthorn v Carlton at the MCG (Friday April 30, 7.40pm)
Round 8: Hawthorn v GWS Giants at UTAS Stadium (Sunday May 9, 12.30pm)
Round 9: Hawthorn v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 15, 7.35pm)
Round 10: Sydney Swans v Hawthorn at the SCG (Friday May 21, 7.40pm)
Round 11: Hawthorn v St Kilda at UTAS Stadium (Saturday May 29, 1.15pm)
Round 12: Collingwood v Hawthorn at the MCG (Friday June 4, 7.40pm)
Round 13: Adelaide Crows v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Thursday June 10, 7.30pm)
Round 14: Hawthorn v Fremantle at the MCG (Thursday June 17, 7.30pm)
Round 15: BYE
Round 16: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Saturday July 3, 1.35pm)
Round 17: Hawthorn v Geelong at the MCG
Round 18: Hawthorn v Gold Coast Suns at UTAS Stadium
Round 19: North Melbourne v Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium
Round 20: Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG
Round 21: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans at UTAS Stadium
Round 22: Richmond v Hawthorn at the MCG
Round 23: West Coast Eagles v Hawthorn at Optus Stadium
Round 24: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 2nd-hardest
Pros: First three games of 2027 at the MCG? Yes please! The Hawks won’t leave their home ground until Gather Round, and it’s there they’ll play their ‘away’ fixture against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval — avoiding a trip to Perth until Round 23 against West Coast. Beyond that though, this is simply a hard fixture for Sam Mitchell’s side. They do, however, have seven prime time clashes in the first 16 rounds — on par with Fremantle and Adelaide, with only the Swans hosting more in that same period.
Cons: While their early home advantage is great, their opening two matches are against Brisbane and Geelong — obviously no easybeats. By extension, their Round 3 fixture against Essendon is the only game you could probably pencil them in for a likely win in what is otherwise a very tough start to 2027. Two fixtures each against the Dockers, Cats, Swans, Suns and Bulldogs are particularly hard, given the expected rise of the latter two clubs who finished outside the top six in 2026.
Grade: B
MELBOURNE
Round 1: Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG (Sunday March 21, 3.15pm)
Round 2: Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday March 27, 8.10pm)
Round 3: St Kilda v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday April 3, 1.35pm)
Round 4: Carlton v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 10, 1.35pm)
Round 5: Melbourne v Sydney Swans at the MCG (Friday April 16, 7.40pm)
Round 6: Melbourne v Richmond at the MCG (Saturday April 24, 7.35pm)
Round 7: Melbourne v Adelaide Crows at TIO Traeger Park (Saturday May 1, 1.45pm)
Round 8: Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at the MCG (Sunday May 9, 12.30pm)
Round 9: Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns at the MCG (Saturday May 15, 1.45pm)
Round 10: Fremantle v Melbourne at Optus Stadium (Thursday May 20, 8.10pm)
Round 11: Geelong v Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium (Friday May 28, 7.40pm)
Round 12: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Thursday June 3, 7.30pm)
Round 13: Melbourne v Collingwood at the MCG (Monday June 14, 3.15pm)
Round 14: Adelaide Crows v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Sunday June 20, 3.15pm)
Round 15: BYE
Round 16: Sydney Swans v Melbourne at the SCG (Friday July 2, 7.40pm)
Round 17: Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium
Round 18: Carlton v Melbourne at the MCG
Round 19: GWS Giants v Melbourne at ENGIE Stadium
Round 20: Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG
Round 21: West Coast Eagles v Melbourne at Optus Stadium
Round 22: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at the MCG
Round 23: North Melbourne v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 7th-easiest
Pros: If their 2026 surge is anything to go by, Steven King’s side will have every hope of going through the first month undefeated. Their season-opener against Essendon leads into games against Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton which are all very much winnable. Three of their final five matches look sure to test them late if they don’t cash in early, but the early lay-up is certainly there. The Demons have been rewarded for their fast-paced football this year with five prime time fixtures in the first 16 rounds, including two against Sydney.
Cons: The Demons have come out of the fixture reveal pretty well, considering they finished the home-and-away season in seventh last year. After ending their five-game losing streak at Adelaide Oval in Round 23 last year, the Demons will want to keep that form going in the ‘City of Churches’ — playing THREE games at the picturesque venue before their mid-season bye. The Demons have also drawn a clash with Geelong at Kardinia Park; a venue they’ve lost at in six of their last seven visits.
Grade: A-
NORTH MELBOURNE
Round 1: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (Sunday March 21, 1.10pm)
Round 2: North Melbourne v Carlton (Friday March 26, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne at People First Stadium (Sunday April 4, 3.15pm)
Round 4: Essendon v North Melbourne at Norwood Oval (Sunday April 11, 12.30pm)
Round 5: Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG (Saturday April 17, 4.15pm)
Round 6: Geelong v North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday April 24, 4.15pm)
Round 7: North Melbourne v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 2, 6.10pm)
Round 8: Sydney Swans v North Melbourne at the SCG (Saturday May 8, 7.35pm)
Round 9: North Melbourne v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 16, 6.10pm)
Round 10: Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 22, 4.35pm)
Round 11: North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at Hands Oval (Sunday May 30, 3.15pm)
Round 12: North Melbourne v Fremantle at Optus Stadium (Saturday June 5, 7.35pm)
Round 13: BYE
Round 14: Essendon v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday June 19, 7.35pm)
Round 15: Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday June 26, 4.15pm)
Round 16: Carlton v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday July 3, 7.35pm)
Round 17: North Melbourne v Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium
Round 18: Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba
Round 19: North Melbourne v Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium
Round 20: North Melbourne v Richmond at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: GWS Giants v North Melbourne at ENGIE Stadium
Round 22: North Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium
Round 23: North Melbourne v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: St Kilda v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 3rd-easiest
Pros: The Kangaroos have the third-easiest draw, according to our numbers. Their double-up opponents include the Bombers, Blues, Tigers, Suns and Saints, providing a side many expect to rise up the ladder in 2026 with opportunities to collect crucial wins. The Roos also have a strong run of home games late in the season. Six of their final eight matches will be played at Marvel Stadium, including games against Richmond, Gold Coast and Melbourne. The Kangaroos also have a promising opening month, with winnable games against Port Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond. Also, it is their home ground, but 13 games at Marvel Stadium is a … plus?
Cons: North faces a challenging run either side of its mid-season bye. It has away games against Collingwood and Western Bulldogs in the lead-up to Round 13 (as well as a ‘home’ fixture against Fremantle in Perth), followed by games against Adelaide and Carlton. The Kangaroos also face tough trips to the Gold Coast, Geelong, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Grade: A
Demons take patient approach to rebuild | 03:00
PORT ADELAIDE
Round 1: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (Sunday March 21, 1.10pm)
Round 2: Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval (Saturday March 27, 8.10pm)
Round 3: West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium (Sunday April 4, 6.10pm)
Round 4: Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval (Sunday April 11, 7.15pm)
Round 5: St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (Sunday April 18, 3.15pm)
Round 6: Port Adelaide v Carlton at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 24, 8.10pm)
Round 7: Richmond v Port Adelaide at Ninja Stadium (Sunday May 2, 3.15pm)
Round 8: Port Adelaide v Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval (Friday May 7, 8.10pm)
Round 9: Hawthorn v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 15, 7.35pm)
Round 10: Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Oval (Saturday May 22, 1.15pm)
Round 11: Port Adelaide v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval (Saturday May 29, 7.35pm)
Round 12: BYE
Round 13: Gold Coast Suns v Port Adelaide at People First Stadium (Saturday June 12, 1.15pm)
Round 14: Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval (Saturday June 19, 1.35pm)
Round 15: GWS Giants v Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval (Sunday June 27, 5.10pm)
Round 16: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval (Saturday July 3, 1.35pm)
Round 17: Melbourne v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium
Round 18: Port Adelaide v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval
Round 19: Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Round 20: Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval
Round 21: Geelong v Port Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium
Round 22: Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval
Round 23: Carlton v Port Adelaide at the MCG
Round 24: Port Adelaide v Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 9th-hardest
Pros: Much like last year, the Power has a chance to chalk up a few early wins on the board. A season-opener against North Melbourne for a second year running gives them a shot early doors, before hosting Melbourne and playing West Coast away before Gather Round. And while their finish to 2027 softens after a brutal middle run, this is a hard fixture to see too many positives for Port Adelaide.
Cons: After a decent start, it’s a tough month for the Power heading into the bye — facing Adelaide, Hawthorn, Brisbane and Collingwood before their mid-season break. The second half of their season also begins with duels against Gold Coast and Sydney, making for a potentially hellish six-week patch. Their double-up matches loom as a major stitch-up too, with only West Coast and Gold Coast finishing in the bottom eight; with the latter expected to surge up the ladder in 2027. Just the one match for the year at the MCG, in Round 23 against Carlton, also takes Josh Carr’s side off-Broadway in the sporting capital. Their sole prime time fixture comes on a Friday night against Adelaide in Round 8, and even then, it’s clashing with Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.
Grade: D
Butters to face Port at Gather Round | 01:56
RICHMOND
Round 1: Richmond v Carlton at the MCG (Saturday March 20, 12.35pm)
Round 2: Gold Coast Suns v Richmond at People First Stadium (Saturday March 27, 5.10pm)
Round 3: Geelong v Richmond at GMHBA Stadium (Sunday April 4, 12.30pm)
Round 4: Richmond v West Coast Eagles at Norwood Oval (Saturday April 10, 4.35pm)
Round 5: Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG (Saturday April 17, 4.15pm)
Round 6: Melbourne v Richmond at the MCG (Saturday April 24, 7.35pm)
Round 7: Richmond v Port Adelaide at Ninja Stadium (Sunday May 2, 3.15pm)
Round 8: St Kilda v Richmond at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 8, 4.15pm)
Round 9: Richmond v Essendon at the MCG (Friday May 14, 7.45pm)
Round 10: Collingwood v Richmond at the MCG (Saturday May 22, 7.35pm)
Round 11: BYE
Round 12: Richmond v Adelaide Crows at the MCG (Saturday June 5, 1.35pm)
Round 13: Richmond v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium (Saturday June 12, 4.15pm)
Round 14: Brisbane Lions v Richmond at the Gabba (Saturday June 19, 4.35pm)
Round 15: Richmond v West Coast Eagles at the MCG (Saturday June 26, 1.15pm)
Round 16: Essendon v Richmond at Optus Stadium (Sunday July 4, 3.15pm)
Round 17: Fremantle v Richmond at Optus Stadium
Round 18: Richmond v St Kilda at the MCG
Round 19: Richmond v Sydney Swans at the MCG
Round 20: North Melbourne v Richmond at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: Adelaide Crows v Richmond at Adelaide Oval
Round 22: Richmond v Hawthorn at the MCG
Round 23: Western Bulldogs v Richmond at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: Richmond v Collingwood at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 2nd-easiest
Pros: When you finish second-last, you at least get to play 18th (Essendon) and 16th (West Coast) twice. Fittingly, the Tigers have the second-easiest fixture. Of Richmond’s other double-ups, Adelaide and Collingwood are the only clubs that played finals last year. They also only play one top eight teams from 2026 up to their Round 11 bye. It’s part of a friendly start, with Adem Yze’s side only leaving Victoria twice in the first 13 rounds, excluding Gather Round, including a trip down the highway to face Geelong.
Cons: They’ll be hoping Collingwood and North Melbourne aren’t big improvers after their trade period splashes as two of the Tigers’ double-up opponents. A particularly tough run home in what’s clearly the most challenging part of Richmond’s draw. In their last eight games, the Tigers play Fremantle (Round 17), Sydney (Round 19), Adelaide (Round 21), Hawthorn (Round 22), Western Bulldogs (Round 23) and Collingwood (Round 24). Only one prime-time appearance, plus they sold a home game to Tasmania (Port Adelaide, Round 7) and play the second Dreamtime match against Essendon in Round 16 in Perth – though that’s the Bombers’ home game.
Grade: A-
Pressure on Tigers youngsters | 02:28
ST KILDA
Round 1: St Kilda v Collingwood at the MCG (Saturday March 20, 7.40pm)
Round 2: Western Bulldogs v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday March 28, 7.20pm)
Round 3: St Kilda v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday April 3, 1.35pm)
Round 4: St Kilda v Geelong at Barossa Park (Sunday April 11, 3.15pm)
Round 5: St Kilda v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium (Sunday April 18, 3.15pm)
Round 6: Fremantle v St Kilda at Optus Stadium (Sunday April 25, 8.10pm)
Round 7: North Melbourne v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 2, 6.10pm)
Round 8: St Kilda v Richmond at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 9, 3.15pm)
Round 9: Brisbane Lions v St Kilda at the Gabba (Sunday May 16, 12.30pm)
Round 10: St Kilda v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium (Sunday May 23, 12.30pm)
Round 11: Hawthorn v St Kilda at UTAS Stadium (Saturday May 29, 1.15pm)
Round 12: Essendon v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday June 6, 3.15pm)
Round 13: Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG (Sunday June 13, 3.15pm)
Round 14: BYE
Round 15: St Kilda v Carlton at Marvel Stadium (Sunday June 27, 3.15pm)
Round 16: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium (Sunday July 4, 5.10pm)
Round 17: Adelaide Crows v St Kilda at Adelaide Oval
Round 18: Richmond v St Kilda at the MCG
Round 19: Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda at People First Stadium
Round 20: St Kilda v Geelong at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: St Kilda v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium
Round 22: St Kilda v West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium
Round 23: Collingwood v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: St Kilda v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 5th-easiest
Pros: Given the fifth-easiest draw in a good result for a side that finished one spot out of finals. That includes double-ups against two bottom five sides from last year, North Melbourne and Richmond. Outside of Gather Round, the Saints only leave Melbourne once inside the first eight rounds. Their best stretch is the run home, when Ross Lyon’s side plays it’s final five games at Marvel Stadium in a period it’ll be hopefully jostling for finals position.
Cons: A pretty brutal start to the season with clashes against five 2026 finalists in the first six rounds; Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle. They’d be stoked to come out of that 3-3. The double-ups don’t read that well for a team that didn’t play finals, particularly if Collingwood, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs all improve, as expected. There’s also no prime time games for the Saints in 2027.
Grade: C
Stringer set for fourth AFL club | 00:30
SYDNEY SWANS
Round 1: Sydney Swans v Geelong at the SCG (Wednesday March 17, 7.30pm)
Round 2: Essendon v Sydney Swans at the MCG (Sunday March 28, 3.15pm)
Round 3: Sydney Swans v GWS Giants at the SCG (Friday April 2, 7.15pm)
Round 4: Sydney Swans v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval (Friday April 9, 7.40pm)
Round 5: Melbourne v Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium (Friday April 16, 7.40pm)
Round 6: Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows at the SCG (Friday April 23, 7.40pm)
Round 7: Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans at the Gabba (Thursday April 29, 7.30pm)
Round 8: Sydney Swans v North Melbourne at the SCG (Saturday May 8, 7.35pm)
Round 9: West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium (Saturday May 15, 4.15pm)
Round 10: Sydney Swans v Hawthorn at the SCG (Friday May 21, 7.40pm)
Round 11: Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium (Thursday May 27, 7.30pm)
Round 12: BYE
Round 13: Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG (Sunday June 13, 3.15pm)
Round 14: Port Adelaide v Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval (Saturday June 19, 1.35pm)
Round 15: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions at the SCG (Friday June 25, 7.40pm)
Round 16: Sydney Swans v Melbourne at the SCG (Friday July 2, 7.40pm)
Round 17: North Melbourne v Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium
Round 18: Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles at the SCG
Round 19: Richmond v Sydney Swans at the MCG
Round 20: Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns at the SCG
Round 21: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans at UTAS Stadium
Round 22: Sydney Swans v Carlton at the SCG
Round 23: GWS Giants v Sydney Swans at ENGIE Stadium
Round 24: Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 8th-easiest
Pros: The prime-time kings with a league-best nine! The eighth-easiest fixture for a side that finished second on the ladder in the home and away season and played in a preliminary final is some result. That includes double-ups against two bottom five sides from 2026, North Melbourne and West Coast, plus a Giants side that will likely be widely tipped to slide. After opening their season against Geelong at the SCG, their friendliest stretch, in terms of opponents, follows. The Swans face Essendon, GWS, North Melbourne and West Coast over the next eight rounds. They also play three of their first four games of the Round 12 bye at the SCG, with the one away contest against Port Adelaide, followed by meetings with North Melbourne, West Coast, Richmond and Gold Coast.
Cons: Double-ups against arguably the two flag favourites, Brisbane and Hawthorn. A lot of travel early in the season in two trips to Melbourne and a Gabba clash as well as Gather Round inside the first seven rounds. The Swans play Hawthorn (UTAS Stadium) and Fremantle (Optus Stadium) in their final four games including a trip to Optus Stadium in the final round. A team with flag aspirations only plays at the MCG three times; against Essendon (Round 2), Melbourne (Round 5) and Richmond (Round 19).
Grade: A
WEST COAST EAGLES
Round 1: West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium (Sunday March 21, 6.10pm)
Round 2: GWS Giants v West Coast Eagles at Manuka Oval (Saturday March 27, 2.10pm)
Round 3: West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium (Sunday April 4, 6.10pm)
Round 4: West Coast Eagles v Richmond at Norwood Oval (Saturday April 10, 4.35pm)
Round 5: Fremantle v West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium (Friday April 16, 8.10pm)
Round 6: Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles at the Gabba (Saturday April 24, 1.15pm)
Round 7: West Coast Eagles v Collingwood at Optus Stadium (Saturday May 1, 7.35pm)
Round 8: Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at the MCG (Sunday May 9, 12.30pm)
Round 9: West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium (Saturday May 15, 4.15pm)
Round 10: Geelong v West Coast Eagles at GMHBA Stadium (Saturday May 22, 4.15pm)
Round 11: North Melbourne v West Coast Eagles at Hands Oval (Sunday May 30, 3.15pm)
Round 12: West Coast Eagles v Carlton at Optus Stadium (Sunday June 6, 8.10pm)
Round 13: West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium (Saturday June 12, 7.35pm)
Round 14: BYE
Round 15: Richmond v West Coast Eagles at the MCG (Saturday June 26, 1.15pm)
Round 16: West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium (Friday July 2, 8.10pm)
Round 17: West Coast Eagles v Essendon at Optus Stadium
Round 18: Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles at the SCG
Round 19: West Coast Eagles v Fremantle at Optus Stadium
Round 20: Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval
Round 21: West Coast Eagles v Melbourne at Optus Stadium
Round 22: St Kilda v West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium
Round 23: West Coast Eagles v Hawthorn at Optus Stadium
Round 24: Essendon v West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 6th-easiest
Pros: Friendly double-ups against the two bottom sides from 2026, Richmond and Essendon, plus a Port Adelaide outfit that could be in the mix for the wooden spoon in 2027. A very winnable string of games to open the season against Gold Coast, GWS, Port Adelaide and Richmond. They get the Tigers again after their Round 14 bye, followed three of their next four at Optus Stadium – albeit one against the Dockers – then an away meeting with Port Adelaide. Play an ‘away’ game against North Melbourne in Bunbury for a second-straight year and only leave Perth once in the last month of the season to play St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in Round 22.
Cons: Only the sixth-toughest draw for a rebuilding club coming off a fifth-straight bottom three finish. That includes double-ups against grand finalist Fremantle and Sydney. A brutal run against the Dockers, Brisbane, Collingwood, Melbourne, Sydney and Geelong from rounds 5 to 10 will be the big test. Only the two prime-time games, compared to Freo’s seven.
Grade: A
Are West Coast adding list cloggers? | 02:19
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Round 1: Fremantle v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium (Thursday March 18, 8.10pm)
Round 2: Western Bulldogs v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (Sunday March 28, 7.20pm)
Round 3: Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval (Saturday April 3, 4.35pm)
Round 4: Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval (Sunday April 11, 7.15pm)
Round 5: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium (Saturday April 17, 7.35pm)
Round 6: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval (Sunday April 25, 12.15pm)
Round 7: Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns at Mars Stadium (Sunday May 2, 12.30pm)
Round 8: Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium (Friday May 7, 7.40pm)
Round 9: Carlton v Western Bulldogs at the MCG (Sunday May 16, 3.15pm)
Round 10: Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Saturday May 22, 4.35pm)
Round 11: Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium (Thursday May 27, 7.30pm)
Round 12: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium (Thursday June 3, 7.30pm)
Round 13: West Coast Eagles v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium (Saturday June 12, 7.35pm)
Round 14: Western Bulldogs v Geelong at Marvel Stadium (Friday June 18, 7.40pm)
Round 15: BYE
Round 16: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium (Sunday July 4, 5.10pm)
Round 17: Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs at People First Stadium
Round 18: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium
Round 19: Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium
Round 20: Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants at Mars Stadium
Round 21: Essendon v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium
Round 22: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at the MCG
Round 23: Western Bulldogs v Richmond at Marvel Stadium
Round 24: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at the MCG
Fixture difficulty (based on percentage of double-ups): 3rd-hardest
Pros: Despite all the preliminary expectations on Luke Beveridge’s side this season, they look a solid chance of leaving Gather Round with a 3-1 record if all goes well. Arguably their biggest win to come from the fixture though, is a very generous draw that sees them leave Victoria just twice (!!) after Round 6. In that stretch, they’ll play a stretch of eight matches in 11 games at Marvel Stadium, as well as two games in Ballarat at their second home. More specifically too, the Bulldogs will remain in Victoria for the final seven weeks of the home-and-away season, including four Marvel Stadium matches. The opponents they’re set to play are tough, but there’s no risk of these Bulldogs feeling the travel pinch at all in 2027.
Cons: For all the benefits they’ll get without travelling, the Bulldogs’ double-up games are no joke. They’ll play all of Adelaide, Gold Coast, GWS Giants, Hawthorn, Melbourne and St Kilda twice, where you could make an argument the Giants and Saints are the only two they’d certainly go in as favourites against. They’ll also get a proper baptism of fire in Round 1, travelling over to Perth to take on Fremantle in their season-opener.
Grade: B+