Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Whiskers]

This time last year, Geelong had either the 5th hardest draw based on finishing position (in 2024) or 11th hardest draw based on percentage (in 2024).

Like the other prelim finalists, they played 3x against the top 6, but the two middle 6 teams they played were the two lowest ranked (based on 2024), and the bottom 6 team they played was the lowest ranked.

So they were given the maximum 3 against top 6 teams, but counterbalanced by having the easiest possible two middle 6 and one bottom 6 team.

7-5 against teams we played twice
10-1 against sides we played once.

You whinge a lot but if you change our double ups, we would just get more wins anyway.

 

[beside the seaside]

AFL have closed the easier fixture loophole with clubs playing 4 of their set group and likely one of each of the likely groups of 6 shambles I really wanted a Cats like fixture this season

Another free top 5 pick not enough for you?

 

[BrutThough]

So it’s our turn to have a Geelong type fixture and finish with 8 of the bottom 10 teams right?

I love how hurt some people are over this as if the AFL could predict two of last years preliminary finalists falling down the ladder the way they did.

 

[Saints43]

You were bottom 4 for attendance in 2025 with Nasiah and have been for the last 3 years.

Nothing can ever change.
As a Carlton supporter once told me in 1999.

 

[Millsie69]

With major construction works being completed at UTAS stadium, reducing the capacity to just 10,000, I hope we play super low-drawing teams there next season.

Gold Coast, GWS, West Coast and Freo (or North).

Sorry Tasweigans.

 

[eth-dog]

It'll be interesting to see which of Essendon, Richmond, Port, North and Melbourne will miss out on playing West Coast twice (you're kidding if you don't think they'll be the ones to get 4 double ups in the bottom 6 after a one win season).

 

[doppleganger]

Teams change - Port were a "tough" double up heading into 2025 based on the 2024 ladder.

And also when did fans actually start to accept the handicapping?

Why should Brisbane play Geelong, Collingwood, Adelaide and GWS twice and not Carlton, Essendon, Richmond and WC?

If the fixture isn't equal, your double up opponents should be random, not be designed to make it harder for some teams and easier for others.

 

[Billy ray]

#doubleupsshouldbe2premiershippoints

 

[SSSSSS]

The AFL has announced a change to the weighted fixture rule ahead of the 2026 fixture releases.

The rule change will mean you can play up to 4 clubs from within your group. It’s expected 2 of the top 6 will get 4 double ups within that group.

League makes big change to weighted rule ahead of fixture reveal

Teams can play up to four other teams in their ladder range, previously three, from next season

www.afl.com.au

Pretty much a no brainer to give the Grand Finalists the 4 double ups.

It's the AFL though so they won't do something simple that makes sense.

 

[GroggSquad]

It'll be interesting to see which of Essendon, Richmond, Port, North and Melbourne will miss out on playing West Coast twice (you're kidding if you don't think they'll be the ones to get 4 double ups in the bottom 6 after a one win season).

You can pencil in North missing out.

They shoot themselves in the foot selling their home game over there, because it means they lose a second soft matchup against the Eagles (a West Coast home game) with the AFL unwilling to send them to Perth a second time on top of their extended stay.

 

[theprospector]

After reading the Herald Sun article the other day, I wouldn't be surprised if Essendon's only Thursday/Friday night games in the first 14-15 rounds (whatever they set in place, before the floating fixture) are Hawthorn in R1, and Richmond for Dreamtime. They could potentially get one on Good Friday night like they did last year v West Coast, but that doesn't really count. I'm personally hoping for mostly Saturday 4:15 and Sunday games. Because I'm not a school-aged kid, and don't have kids, having Sunday 4:40 games under the dome are great. Sunday 1:10 and Saturday 1:20 games no good for mine unless it's at the G (something about day games under the roof, when you can see the sun through the cracks, makes me feel yuck).

In answer to your bingo, I'm saying Geelong to play a 2025 bottom six team in one of the last two rounds. Limited prime time for Carlton, I'll guess four Thursday/Friday games in the first block of fixtures + Good Friday. There always is that one team that gets heaps of Ch7 matches, despite being middling the previous season. I'd guess St Kilda for next year, mainly because all the recruits will be a talking point even if they're bad (maybe even more so!). All St Kilda do is complain anyways, so they've probably been begging the AFL for prime time because they think they're so relevant now!

I'm old school too, give me day games over night every day of the week. A major issue for me this season was the fact Collingwood had about 2 day matches the entire season, outside ANZAC and Kings Birthday.

I mentioned Carlton and Essendon but this also applies to my club. I don't think the game can truly grow with the same 3-4 Melbourne clubs in every single prime time slot. It's the same problem with Opening Round, is it really growing the game if it's just a bunch of Collingwood fans packing out GWS etc.

 

[manicmagpie]

There's definitely a chance Collingwood will cop the 4 top 6 teams. Of the 5 other teams in the top 6 it's only Geelong that I'm confident we won't get twice.

Otherwise:

Brisbane - always get the Easter Thursday at the Gabba and last year's MCG match was the highest ever crowd between teams from different states

Hawthorn - prospect of 2 huge MCG games

Adelaide - almost a given because of the controversy and 2 huge crowds (+ a final) last year

Gold Coast - we're always GC's biggest home crowd plus the AFL are crazy if they don't schedule them against us at the G to give them potentially their biggest crowd ever.

I'm going to guess we get Carlton, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and either Hawthorn/W Bulldogs

We have to get Melbourne twice as it's our turn to host KB and Melbourne always get a home game against us.

Melbourne have played in 126 seasons, and only 40 odd of them have had a guarantee that you'll play every team both home and away. Somehow they've still managed to have a home game against Collingwood in 122 of the 126 seasons.

 

[JPetro83]

Hurry up with Round 1 already.....

 

[GroggSquad]

It’s irrelevant who we get in the bottom 6 really. We should beat them all anyway.

I mean I would suggest Adelaide is a slightly different proposition to Richmond, but sure.

Plus I wish we didn’t cop Saints twice, getting top placed crows twice would’ve been better. Saints are our bogey team.

Getting another team from the Bottom 6 bracket instead of a team from the Middle 6 bracket would've been better? I suppose that makes sense, yeah.

The whinging from people like you is hilarious.

I would find it hilarious if I was a Geelong fan too given the competition is so geared in the favour of the Cats and yet all any of the nuffs talk about is how many games Collingwood get at the MCG. It's a comical distraction hey?

 

[Grumpyshades]

With major construction works being completed at UTAS stadium, reducing the capacity to just 10,000, I hope we play super low-drawing teams there next season.

Gold Coast, GWS, West Coast and Freo (or North).

Sorry Tasweigans.

they are your home games..if you get low crowds you are 100% the 'low drawing club'

edited for accuracy

 

[Grumpyshades]

You can pencil in North missing out.

They shoot themselves in the foot selling their home game over there, because it means they lose a second soft matchup against the Eagles (a West Coast home game) with the AFL unwilling to send them to Perth a second time on top of their extended stay.

always funny when clubs who rarely travel and play 18 games at their home ground have a sook

 

[Millsie69]

they are your home games..if you get low crowds you are 100% the 'low drawing club'

edited for accuracy

More that the club gets guaranteed money as part of the deal to play there, regardless of the crowd number.

So why play games in Melbourne against a one-win Weagles team on a Sunday afternoon?

 

[Grumpyshades]

More that the club gets guaranteed money as part of the deal to play there, regardless of the crowd number.

So why play games in Melbourne against a one-win Weagles team on a Sunday afternoon?

because irrelevant low crowd clubs have to sell their home games to survive

 

[POSA98]

Pretty much a no brainer to give the Grand Finalists the 4 double ups.

It's the AFL though so they won't do something simple that makes sense.

I was thinking something along the lines of premiership team and minor premier unless their the same and then you’d go the premiership team and runners up.

Not that I really want my Crows to cop the 4 double ups in 2026

 

[fl4gd0n5]

Brisbane - always get the Easter Thursday at the Gabba and last year's MCG match was the highest ever crowd between teams from different states

Why doesn’t Easter Thursday rotate between Brisbane and Melbourne? In 2021 they played at Docklands but I’m assuming that was because of travel restrictions at the time. I get it from the perspective of getting lots of pies fans to travel for the long weekend, but it’s rare that you see two teams agree to a marquee match like this that’s only played as one teams home game.

I’d be surprised is Collingwood don’t get Essendon twice next year. 2025 was the first year since 2016 that they haven’t played twice. And, I just had a quick look, it seems as though 1991 was the last time before that, which is crazy. Probably because of the way they used to do the fixture, and ANZAC day falling within the first 5 rounds most years even though the official ANZAC day game started in ‘95.

 

[fl4gd0n5]

With major construction works being completed at UTAS stadium, reducing the capacity to just 10,000, I hope we play super low-drawing teams there next season.

Gold Coast, GWS, West Coast and Freo (or North).

Sorry Tasweigans.

Could be North Melbourne, given their links to Tasmania. I’d assume there would be a few North fans down there as a result of their games at Bellerieve. I’d classify them as a low-drawing teams. North’s average crows at UTAS is 14k, so it’s not like you’re missing out on heaps.

I’d say Richmond given they’re playing at Bellerive now, but you’d get at least 50k for a game at the MCG so they won’t to that.

 

[Billy ray]

Hopefully the Public Holiday Eve Sunday Night Q Clash will be at Carrara after having the first two at the gabba the last two seasons

 

[boncer34]

More that the club gets guaranteed money as part of the deal to play there, regardless of the crowd number.

So why play games in Melbourne against a one-win Weagles team on a Sunday afternoon?

Are you asking why Hawthorn should play home games, in its home city, in front of its home fans?

 

[blueiris]

I love how hurt some people are over this as if the AFL could predict two of last years preliminary finalists falling down the ladder the way they did.

Hurt whose hurt not me we went to smash the cats because of their easy fixture I’m actually happy for the fairer fixture but I’m sure there will be teams in the top 6 from last year that will have down seasons

 

[Millsie69]

Are you asking why Hawthorn should play home games, in its home city, in front of its home fans?

No surprise that you've completely missed the point.

When we're contractually obligated to play four 'home' games in Launceston, it would be better for the club to play the least appealing games down there and have the better fixtures in Melbourne.