Expert verdict after 2027 fixture release, every club’s schedule, David King analysis, latest news

The 2027 AFL fixture is out, so it’s time to delve into all its quirks – good and bad.

One club is out to “embarrass” the league for its lack of prime-time fixtures, while another could be set for early-season “trauma” from its opponents.

Fox Footy’s experts give their verdicts on every club’s slate.

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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

David King says: “The pressure is on. Eighteen wins two years ago to finish top of the table, they regress to 15 wins this year. Eighth year for Matty Nicks, they’ve only won the one final. It’s a sticky start… if they’re 0-3, it’s on, the pressure is on for Matty Nicks. There’s no hiding for the Adelaide Crows; it’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that. They haven’t really set the world on fire with their trades in the off-season… you wouldn’t want to start 2-5, that’s the real concern. They can’t afford to start poorly, and Matty Nicks would be more aware of that than anyone in the land… it’s a very sticky roster for them. This is their lot; they just have to get on with it and perform.”

Sam Edmund says: “At least four of their first five is on their own deck at Adelaide Oval, but it’s against quality. I think a lot of us are still getting over the trade period that never really was. You look at the ins, and they don’t exactly knock you over with a feather.”

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

David King says: “Won’t affect Simmo (Adam Simpson) coaching them – won’t affect them at all! They’ll get the job done.”

Sam Edmund says: “No surprises with their fixture, it’s absolutely brutal. But when you’ve won the last three flags, played off in the last four Grand Finals, you should actually be put on rations and made to sleep on a bed of nails. We spoke about them not starting the season at home – forget that, they only play once at the Gabba in the first month. They’ve got the harshest set of double-ups – Collingwood, who we expect to improve, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast, St Kilda and Sydney. It’s a tough draw, but does it really matter? Anywhere, any time, any venue, they’re going to be hard to beat.”

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

David King says: “Collingwood got 11 (prime time games). Carlton has got six Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights. I think they were one of the most watchable teams in the competition in the back half of the year. I think they won 11.5 of their last 14 games. So why wouldn’t you want to watch them in prime time? Draw difficulty 10th, that’s about right; they finished in that area of the ladder. There’s a real opportunity for them to start well, too – Richmond, North Melbourne. If they are the top-six or better team in 2027, then they bank those two. Melbourne, a 50-50 game; you’d think Brisbane would be too strong at this stage. But look at the opportunity. Collingwood, Port Adelaide. Okay, a couple of sticky ones after that. But I think that they get a real opportunity to turn 4-2, 5-1. It’s a real opportunity for them to jump and run in 2027.”

Sam Edmund says: “Well, dare we say that word, COVID – that was the last season they were down there, 2020, when the fans couldn’t get in. So it could be a big trip, a mass migration down the highway to try to get a ticket. And another curious one there, they’re going to Darwin. They’re going to TIO to play Gold Coast in the Suns’ only game in the Top End this year. So a few little interesting ripples in the Carlton fixture this year.”

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-easiest

David King says: “It’s almost like the AFL wants Collingwood to go well. The fourth-easiest draw in the competition, 14 games at the MCG … We’re going to see a lot of them, there’s no doubt about that – 11 prime time opportunities, Thursday, Friday, Saturday night, so they’d want to be good. For me, this is a bit of a risk from the AFL. This is a potential error that we’re going to see a lot of Collingwood, if they don’t stack up. I’m just not sure all their games were the most watchable last year. They play a brand of footy that can look great, that can look pretty humdrum for a little while. They are Collingwood, and they’ve got a huge supporter base; we all understand that. We cannot wait to see Lachie Neale in his new colours, and Jesse Hogan to give some real substance to that full forward position. Who knows?”

Sam Edmund says: “I can’t wait to see Lachie Neale go back to the Gabba. I’ve got that circled in red texta. The difference he might make at Collingwood, to help Nick Daicos and Beau McCreery in there, who knows what we’ll see. Every set of supporters gets into their players who leave, and Brisbane, they make a bit of noise up there. Of course he’s been good, but Zach Merrett’s been good for Essendon too – they’re going to get into him.”

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

David King says: “Longmire comes in to support Spike McVeigh. It’ll look different; it’ll be different. And I think there’s some excitement in that. They’ll still turn up to the footy as they’ve always done, the Essendon fans, and cheer their boys on. Again, you just need to see growth. I don’t think the fixture is as important to Essendon right now as what it is to other clubs … on field, they just need to see some growth.”

Sam Edmund says: “I make of this that you can just feel from afar the AFL put both arms around Essendon, rub them on the back, Kingy, like your mum used to do when you were crook as a kid and say, ‘It’s all going to be OK’. Just a big old cuddle from head office. They couldn’t tick off the Dreamtime deal quick enough, the AFL, and it’s clever – you bang seven figures there, you don’t compromise your home ground advantage. The WA government are desperate for events, and Dreamtime is that, and the AFL want more footy there. So they get home ground rights, as we said, off the top. Now, the Bombers, they get five of their first six at the MCG. It’s not a bad run, is it? Albeit, there’s some real quality there – Melbourne, Sydney, Hawthorn off the top is brutal. They’ve got a double-up against Geelong, but that’s their only top eight double-up. They also get Richmond and West Coast twice, as they should. They’ve got some good games there. They’ve got an Easter Sunday at the G. They’ve got Anzac Day, of course. They’ve got King’s Birthday Eve against Carlton, which will be big. They’ve got their two Dreamtime games. So commercially, it’s good. You just worry about the product on the field, which is what’s been lacking, of course.”

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

David King says: “(Fourth-hardest) is an amazing number, really, when you think they’ve won 16 and 19 home-and-away games the last two years. So they’ve been at the top of the tree. And I just think this first six, seven, eight weeks gives them massive opportunity. At home against the Dogs, at home against Adelaide, you’d bank them as wins. Collingwood away on a Thursday night. They’re a strong team, Fremantle; they’re going to want to jump and run. Hawthorn at a neutral venue, then you’ve got the home ground Derby. St Kilda at home. And they’ll probably do a number on Essendon, you’d think, given the gap between the two teams. And then Brisbane at home. I mean, this is a team that’s ripe again. A bit like Hawthorn … I’d be really surprised if they weren’t 6-2, 7-1. The sky’s the limit for this group … I think they’re another one of those teams that the AFL have latched onto. They’ve got 10 prime time games, which is a big number, but they’ve earned that right.”

Sam Edmund says: “Six Thursday nights as well, by the way … But you know the way the AFL looks after West Coast and Fremantle these days? They’re mindful of that. So, between Rounds 17 and 20, if you are Fremantle, three of those four weeks are at home – the only away trip is to Port Adelaide. So I know it’s still an away trip, but it’s halfway across the country (instead of a longer trip). They try to look after them in big chunks … (but) they won’t be happy with that (4.15pm local time start in Round 2). They weren’t happy with the 5.10 (start in Round 1). The feedback there, they weren’t happy about that. So 4.15 on a Friday won’t go down well in the West, I reckon.”

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

Sam Edmund says: “What I would say about Geelong is they’d want to have their dukes up straight away, I reckon, because they’ve got Sydney at the SCG into Hawthorn on Easter Monday. That’s a tough start. Double-ups are mixed – they’ve got Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn and St Kilda. As we said earlier, they do get Carlton at GMHBA Stadium for the first time since 2020; that’s in round 19. And across the first 16 rounds, they are going to feature in a glut of Thursday and Friday games. Three of the last four of the season at GMHBA, where they’re so hard to beat, so they’re going to rattle home. The last two are there, too, against Essendon and Adelaide, so you think they’re going to take some real momentum into the finals.”

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

David King says: “Have a look at the opportunity for the first three games. They’ve always hit the ground running, Gold Coast, for whatever reason, and have probably lost their way late. Only two prime time opportunities, which is a regression from last year. Thirteen different venues they play at. The Pendlebury passport … that system’s gone now.”

Sam Edmund says: “Thirteen – that’s footy’s version of the Leland Brothers. He’s (Pendlebury) going to be rested for all those, isn’t he? He doesn’t know how to spell half those stadiums!”

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

David King says: “Laura (Kane) was angry with the Giants, there’s no doubt about that. That’s a tough fixture, isn’t it. It’s going to be a challenge for them again as they turn the page with some young talent to take over the reins.”

Sam Edmund says: “They’ve been the owners of the most stamps on the passport normally – they’ve got ten different venues this year. They don’t play at ENGIE, their home ground, until Round 7, given the Royal Easter Show. On top of that, despite finishing 12th, they’ve copped double-ups against four teams who won a final this year – Carlton, Fremantle, Sydney, and the Bulldogs. The draw difficulty there is five. That’s a darn tough rating for a team that finished outside the wildcards.”

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

David King says: “Just have a look at their start, it’s a beauty – to see them up against Brisbane off the top, Geelong next, Freo in Round 4, the Dogs – it’s just great for the football fan. Not great if you’re a Hawthorn supporter, I guess that’s the challenge that comes with being a really good side. But 15 wins the year before last and 15 wins and two draws last year, so they are ripe. They are right there. They’ve had the best off-season of anyone; the draw difficulty matches their status in the game right now. And you look at their double-up games. Look, this is what happens when you’re a good side. You get a tough fixture because you can cope with it. You’re at that level. And I think the sky’s the limit for this group right now. Full-club role, is winning premierships. So the back office has done their job in the trade period, and now it’s just a matter of performing … We’re going to see them 11 times across Thursday, Friday, Saturday night, which is the equal most with Collingwood, so we’re expecting a lot.”

Sam Edmund says: “They’re easy on the eye, let’s be honest … and I’m with you, Kingy, I want to see where Ben King slots in, Zach Merrett, so they’ve got talking points absolutely everywhere. The last year of their deal down in Tassie as well, so they’ve got their fortress for the final time, which I imagine, I think Sydney’s their last one, will be a pretty emotional send-off for the Hawks down there because it’s been so long.”

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

David King says: “Just have a look at the first month of footy- real opportunity. Essendon, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Carlton. They’ll go into at least two of those four games as favourite, and be 50/50 in the other two. It’s a real opportunity for them to jump and run. I’m surprised that they’ve only got six prime time games, because they were one of the most watchable teams in the competition last season. This is not a bad fixture. I think it really sets them up with a fast start. They get Richmond in Round 6, and then West Coast in Round 8. It really could set them on their path.”

Sam Edmund says: “That Round 7 game in Adelaide – if Steven King had his way, you wouldn’t see the letters TP next to the Crows, Traeger Park, Alice Springs. He told us that during the year, he said ‘I just want to play all my home games at the MCG, but I get we have to grow the game’. That deal has been renewed; they’re back there again, and unfortunately for him, Melbourne haven’t won there for the last three trips they’ve gone up there. If you’re winning, it’s all okay, but if you’re not, then questions get asked.”

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

David King says: “I think the first eight weeks are an opportunity for them to get rolling. It’s a good draw, good opportunity to gather some momentum, and embarrass the AFL for not giving them prime time opportunities. That’s how they have to attack it. New coach, new mindset — I think they’ll start the season incredibly positive.”

Sam Edmund says: “I can’t believe it, actually. The pioneers of Friday night footy — not a crumb, not a sniff! Not a Thursday night either in the first 16. Commercially that’s tough, but who cares, winning trumps everything and they’ve just got to do that. On that front, they do get a leg-up here (with) only one top six team that they play twice; Sydney for obvious reasons (Nick Blakey). They get Essendon and Richmond twice; that has to be four wins banked for where North Melbourne are at in their evolution … they do finish with five of the last six at Marvel. You just hope, coming back to selling games, that it doesn’t come down to fine margins in the race for the top eight selling games to Hands Oval (in Bunbury).”

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

David King says: “They’ve got opportunity early. Their first five weeks in particular – North Melbourne, Melbourne and West Coast. If they are to do anything in 2027, you would think they’re the three they’d be really drilling into. The draw difficulty again is out of whack with where they finished on the AFL table. They finished last year 15th and 13th the year before that, so that’s an upsizing that they really didn’t need. It’s going to be a tough watch, you’d think, for Port Adelaide fans over the next short period, but they will get some gun draft picks coming in.”

Sam Edmund says: “Do they get into Zak Butters at Gather Round? Surely the Port Adelaide fraternity on the Sunday night would relish that.”

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

David King says: “I think there’s opportunity. If you look at Rounds 4 and 5, they’ve got West Coast (and) North Melbourne, Round 7 they’ve got Port Adelaide. They’re the three games for me where I’m really interested and keen to see whether Adem Yze can match it with those groups that are not too dissimilar to where his group’s at. They’ve got to fight for the right (for a Thursday night game against Carlton). It’s exactly what we talk about with every other team – you’ve got to perform, you’ve got to show the AFL why you demand prime time fixturing, because the way you play. They’ve played a pretty boring brand of footy for two years, and the wins, five and three the last two years, are not helping.”

Sam Edmund says: “The CEO, Shane Dunne, came out and said the fact they’ve had their long season opening game move from a Thursday to a lunchtime kick-off on a Saturday was a one-off, just a loner, and we fully expect to get that back next year. Should they expect to get it back? We know they can’t get access to the MCG until Friday, which necessitated all this. When that became clear, Richmond went to the AFL and said: ‘Okay, give us Friday night then, we want Friday night’. They lobbied really hard and the AFL said well, when you bottom out, and you rebuild and you’re no good, unfortunately, this is what has to happen. That’s their lot at the moment.”

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

Sam Edmund says: “I don’t think they would’ve been doing cartwheels. Last year was brutality … this one isn’t far off when it comes to the degree of difficulty. That’s a really tough four-week opening and four of the first six come against top eight teams from this year. They’ve got four trips in the first 11 — both grand finalists on their own deck within the first nine rounds. In a year where your best player (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera) is out of contract and your coach is out of contract. It’s a massive year for the Saints … last five at Marvel in what is potentially a run into finals, we know how well they play at that venue. Commercially, it’s a bit of a disaster; they’ve been shut out from Thursday and Friday night games across the first 16 weeks. Albeit, with the new fixture darling Sunday night, they get four of those.”

David King says: “You’ve got to hit the ground running. It’s even more critical for coaches, because May board meetings start to align with where they’re going with senior coaches. If you start poorly, we saw Voss last year was 1-7, Brad Scott 1-6, Simon Goodwin 0-5 the year before, Adam Simpson 2-6 the year prior. You go through all the coaches that haven’t made it until the end of the season, or if they have, they’ve been under enormous pressure all the way through. The first eight weeks are where I’m really drilling into, and it’s trauma all round, you’d think, for St Kilda.”

AFL fixture delivers for the Swans | 02:18

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

David King says: “Our man Maxy Laughton’s got it ranked 11th in terms of draw difficulty. How does that happen, when you sit second on the ladder? They’ve been a quality team.”

Sam Edmund says: “Laura and her team are chips in on Sydney, make no mistake. They start the season for the fourth consecutive year again at the SCG – I think if you’re Brisbane, you’re thinking what about us? Why can’t we unfurl our flag at home for once? The Swans have been blessed with this draw, really. They play two top-six sides twice in Brisbane and Hawthorn, so for pointy-end opposition, it’s scant on the ground. They also get West Coast twice; they get North Melbourne twice … in between, there’s double-ups against Melbourne and the Giants, who are a bit of an unknown commodity. It’s not the most difficult by any stretch of the imagination. That’s an amazing football department fixture and an amazing commercial fixture. That is the quinella of the night, to be honest.”

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

David King says: “Of the 24 (most recent sacked coaches), 15 had less than a 50-50 result at Round 8. This is really important for Andrew McQualter to get off to a start. Those games are really critical in a hot market. You just feel like in the two-team towns, the pressure comes quicker than it does maybe in Victoria. It’s a hot start.”

Sam Edmund says: “They cop double-ups against three finalists and two top-four finalists in Sydney and Fremantle. Melbourne’s in there as well. They’ve got a re-do against the Bombers, Port Adelaide, Richmond, so they’re in their own weight division there. Between Rounds 11 and 17, the Eagles only fly east once, to take on Richmond at the MCG. That’s Round 15 there. They’ve got four Optus games in that window, the Hands Oval game against North Melbourne, and a bye. That’s a nice little sweet spot for West Coast there.”

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

Sam Edmund says: “Despite them finishing eighth, they’ve copped the third-hardest draw. This is a shocker, because they’ve got Freo in Perth right off the bat and the Adelaide double — Round 3 against Adelaide into Gather Round against Port Adelaide, so they have to play a South Australian tenant, no neutral game there. Five of the Dogs’ first seven are out of Melbourne; they’ve got double-ups against some quality. They don’t have a double-up against a bottom five side. They’ve got some tight turnarounds as well… for Bevo, there’s a theme here, it’s all about winning, you just have to win. They had an amazing trade period.”

David King says: “They really should (win) with Sam Darcy (back), and Zak Butters is obviously the biggest off-season signing we’ve seen for a while. You would think they would hit the ground running. It’s almost like they’ve been given a top-four fixture.”