We have broken down next year’s AFL fixture to reveal the good and the bad for your club, including who your team plays twice and how many top-four and bottom-four games are on the agenda.

Games against top eight: 10
Top four: 5
Bottom four: 5
Play twice: Collingwood, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast
Byes: Opening round, round 15
Games at the MCG: 3
Thursday night games: 1
Friday night games: 3
What’s good: The Crows’ first four games are against teams that missed the finals this year, with two of them at home, so they have the chance to make a quick start.
What’s bad: They have a brutal run of clashes leading into their bye against Sydney (away), Brisbane (home) and Hawthorn (away), and meet the Hawks twice overall.

Daniel Curtin celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Games against top eight: 11
Top four: 5
Bottom four: 4
Play twice: Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
Byes: Rounds 3, 16
Games at the MCG: 3
Thursday night games: 3
Friday night games: 2
What’s good: Brisbane do not face a 2024 finalist from rounds six to 10, and have only two short turnarounds into Thursday matches, with the other off a bye.
What’s bad: There is a realistic chance that all six clubs the Lions play twice could be inside the top eight, while Geelong into Sydney is a challenging start.

Games against top eight: 9
Top four: 5
Bottom four: 6
Play twice: Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast
Byes: Opening round, round 12
Games at the MCG: 11
Thursday night games: 3
Friday night games: 4
What’s good: The Blues feature on Thursday or Friday night in five of the first six rounds, and eight of the first 10. They do not leave Melbourne in the opening month and go interstate just once in the first seven weeks.
What’s bad: Carlton will need to be in a strong position by round 16 because their run to September is tough, particularly if Collingwood and Melbourne bounce back.

Games against top eight: 10
Top four: 5
Bottom four: 5
Play twice: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne
Byes: Rounds 3, 14
Games at the MCG: 14
Thursday night games: 3
Friday night games: 4
What’s good: Collingwood play at the MCG for four straight weeks from rounds 19 to 22, including hosting two interstate teams, and have their usual stack of primetime footy.
What’s bad: There is a scenario where the Pies enter their round seven showdown with Essendon at 0-5, then face Geelong and a trip west to take on Fremantle after that.

The Pies missed September in 2024 and will be hungry to return to the eight.Credit: Getty Images

Games against top eight: 12
Top four: 6
Bottom four: 5
Play twice: Carlton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Richmond, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
Byes: Rounds 4, 16
Games at the MCG: 8
Thursday night games: 4
Friday night games: 4
What’s good: Two games against the rebuilding Tigers is a win,........

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