How each team fared in the 2013 AFL fixture.

Games are split into four categories – against 2012 top-four finishers, against other finalists, against the teams who finished 9th to 13th and against the bottom five (there was a 4.5 game gap between 13th-placed Brisbane and 14th-placed Port Adelaide)

ADELAIDE

3, 7, 5, 7

Open the 2013 season at home against Essendon. Another kind draw for the Crows – two of their matches against other top-four teams are at home.

BRISBANE

4, 6, 4, 8

Plenty of matches against the bottom five make this a favourable draw for the Lions, who appear to be on the rise.

CARLTON

5, 4, 7, 5

Mick Malthouse will coach against his old side Collingwood in an eagerly-awaited round-two blockbuster. Far from the worst draw, but rounds two to five are all against top-eight finishers.

COLLINGWOOD

5, 5, 7, 5

As always, the Magpies pay for their massive drawing power. They have seven Friday night games and play the grand finalists twice apiece.

ESSENDON

5, 5, 6, 6

A reasonable draw for the Bombers, who only play two finalists twice. Brendon Goddard is scheduled to go up against his old club St Kilda in round four.

FREMANTLE

5, 4, 7, 6

Some tough matches early, but if the Dockers maintain their improvement they could benefit in the last month. Three of their last four matches are against bottom-five finishers.

GEELONG

6, 3, 7, 6

A nasty start, with three-straight six-day breaks. No Simonds Stadium matches until round 10 because of ground redevelopment.

GOLD COAST

4, 4, 7, 7

As the numbers suggest a very kind draw for the Suns, who don’t play any finalist twice. Host Collingwood and Carlton back-to-back at Metricon Stadium in rounds 17 and 18.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

5, 4, 6, 7

Similar draw to Gold Coast, except they play cross-town rivals Sydney twice, the first of those clashes coming in round one. Two of their three home games in Canberra take place in the opening five rounds.

HAWTHORN

5, 7, 5, 5

A brutal draw. No team plays so many games against top-eight finishers. Their first seven games are against finalists. After the round-one blockbuster against Geelong, they have a six-day break before travelling to West Coast – who will have had the week off.

MELBOURNE

4, 5, 6, 7

The struggling Demons have the kind draw that they need. Only one return match against a top-eight team and one trip to Perth.

NORTH MELBOURNE

7, 4, 6, 5

A fierce assignment, with eight six-day breaks. Three of their first five games are against top-four teams. On the flipside, three Friday night matches.

PORT ADELAIDE

5, 5, 6, 6

Like Melbourne, a team who received the favourable schedule they desperately needed.

RICHMOND

4, 5, 7, 6

Just the fixture for the improving Tigers. They only play the top four sides once – with the clashes against grand finalists Sydney and Hawthorn not taking place until rounds 18 and 19. Last four matches are against non-finalists.

ST KILDA

5, 5, 6, 6

A favourable first month morphs into a tough fixture, with plenty of travel. Seven games on the road, although one of them is the historic NZ Anzac Day clash. Also cop a rare road trip to Geelong in round 18.

SYDNEY

6, 5, 6, 5

Two games against the Giants obviously helps. Softest of starts against GWS and Gold Coast in first two rounds. A decent fixture, especially compared to fellow grand finalists Hawthorn.

WEST COAST

6, 4, 5, 7

Along with North, the most six-day breaks. Three of their first four matches are at home, which should help.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

5, 5, 7, 5

Nasty schedule as the Bulldogs continue to rebuild. Seven games on the road, two return matches against finalists. And don’t get to double up against Gold Coast and GWS.

AAP r