HOW EACH CLUB FARED IN THE 2016 AFL FIXTURE
ADELAIDE
Features
* Three games at the MCG
* Travel restricted to three states
* Only top six team to play no bottom six team twice
Comment
New Crows coach Don Pyke has been dealt a tough hand to start the season, with six of Adelaide’s first seven games against finalists.
BRISBANE
Features
* Host Collingwood and Hawthorn at the Gabba
* No Friday night matches
* Play 15 of 22 games on Saturday
Comment
The Lions have the benefit of no back-to-back six-day breaks and don’t travel interstate in successive weeks either.
CARLTON
Features
* No Friday night games
* Play at ANZ Stadium for the first time in the home and away season since 2003
* Play first premiership match in Tasmania
Comment
The Brendon Bolton era gets off to a tough start with matches against four finalists and two interstate trips in the first five rounds.
COLLINGWOOD
Features
* Play Essendon just once
* Don’t play outside Victoria in last six rounds
* Five Friday night matches
Comment
Collingwood travel interstate just five times and enjoy a six-game stretch at the MCG from round 9 to 15.
ESSENDON
Features
* Play no top six team twice
* Play Geelong in the inaugural Country Game
* Travel to South Australia and Western Australia twice
Comment
John Worsfold has been handed a reasonably friendly fixture, with the Dons are the only team not to play any of last year’s top six sides twice.
FREMANTLE
Features
* Visit the MCG just once
* Play Melbourne in Darwin in round 16
* Four home matches in last five rounds
Comment
The Dockers won’t find their 2016 flight schedule too taxing, with no back-to-back six-day breaks.
GEELONG
Features
* Blockbuster against Hawthorn on Easter Monday
* Play inaugural Country Game against Essendon
* Play six games under lights at Simonds Stadium
Comment
Geelong landed one of the better draws. They play 17 games in Victoria next year and only play one top six side twice.
GOLD COAST
Features
* Play one top six team (Fremantle)
* Play Western Bulldogs in Cairns
* No Friday night games
Comment
The Suns head to Launceston to face Hawthorn and travel to Simonds Stadium to take on the Cats. But they only play two teams from the top 12 twice.
GWS GIANTS
Features
* Host three matches in Canberra
* Steve Johnson to play against Geelong in round two
* Host Collingwood at Spotless Stadium
Comment
The Giants were much-improved last season and the down side of that is that they have a tougher draw next year as a result.
HAWTHORN
Features
* Easter Monday clash against Geelong
* Grand final rematch at the MCG in round two
* Only club to play two Thursday night matches
Comment
The reigning premiers take centre stage with six Friday night matches and two Thursday night clashes.
MELBOURNE
Features
* Play in Tasmania for the first time
* No Friday night games
* Play eight of the first 12 games at the MCG
Comment
The Demons can establish a solid foundation with plenty of matches at the MCG in the first half of the season.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Features
* Host first-ever Friday night AFL match in Tasmania
* Brent Harvey due to break Michael Tuck’s games record in round 19
* Play five Friday night games
Comment
North will be delighted with five Friday night games but their draw is right up there with Adelaide’s as one of the more demanding.
PORT ADELAIDE
Features
* Play just one top six team twice
* Start with three games at Adelaide Oval
* Travel to every state and territory in the country, except Tasmania
Comment
Port Adelaide have been given every chance to bounce back up the ladder. They only play this year’s top four teams once.
RICHMOND
Features
* Play Carlton once
* Play in Canberra – against GWS – for the first time
* Play first-ever Friday night game in Tasmania
Comment
Getting off to a decent start has been an issue for Damien Hardwick’s men but they only leave Victoria once in the first eight rounds.
ST KILDA
Features
* Celebrate 50th anniversary of 1966 premiership win in round three
* Pride Match against Sydney at Etihad Stadium
* No Friday night matches
Comment
Nick Riewoldt should play his 300th match in round two, which could prove a springboard into the season.
SYDNEY
Features
* Nine night matches
* Host Collingwood in round one
* First Pride Match for premiership points against St Kilda
Comment
Bit of a mixed bag for the Swans, who face some tricky road trips against Geelong at Simonds Stadium and North Melbourne in Hobart.
WEST COAST
Features
* Grand final rematch at the MCG in round two
* Three games at the MCG
* Three home matches in the first month of the season
Comment
The Eagles have a challenging travel schedule that includes an equal-high eight six-day breaks.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Features
* Three Friday night games
* Play first seven games at Etihad Stadium
* Host Gold Coast in Cairns
Comment
The Bulldogs can get off to a flyer with their first seven games on the slick deck at Etihad Stadium.