Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Giant YoYo]

Kinda defeats the purpose of raising awareness and promoting our code in NSW and ACT? I guess need to subscribe to Kayo for the start of the season

It's like promoting the first game clash against the Hawks and not having anywhere for the public to tune in live and free.

Seven won't be able to have a plug for it during the news segment to watch it live and free on 7.

 

[Giant Strides]

MSN

AFL clubs with the most primetime fixtures

8 - Adelaide

8 - Geelong

8 - Hawthorn

7 - Carlton

7 - Western Bulldogs

6 - Collingwood

6 - Fremantle

5 - Sydney

4 - Gold Coast

3 - Brisbane

3 - Port Adelaide

3 - Richmond

2 - Essendon

2 - GWS

2 - St Kilda

1 - Melbourne

1- North Melbourne

0 - West Coast

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Easiest draw we have had from memory.Of all the teams contending we have the easiest draw .No excuses

Yes, that is what FoxSports analysis says too. Obviously we don’t know which teams will over perform/ underperform in 2026, but it seems based on 2025 results we were one of the biggest winners.

WINNERS
GWS Giants
We’ll give some credit to the AFL for looking at the Giants’ percentage, not their win-loss record, which always suggested they were one of the weaker 2025 finalists.

But that doesn’t quite explain why they’ve been given a draw that’s this much easier than the rest of the top nine.

Remember, we just spent months talking about how the top nine teams were better than everyone else. Well, eight of those teams copped the eight hardest 2026 draws... and then there’s GWS with the fourth-easiest?!

As we’ll discuss further below, the Giants play fewer 2025 finalists twice (two, Gold Coast and Hawthorn) than wooden spooners West Coast do (three), which doesn’t make any sense.

The Giants’ middle-six opponents, Sydney and St Kilda, are admittedly likely to improve due to health and/or recruiting. This draw could get harder than it sounds right now.

But let’s put it like this - GWS finished fifth in the home and away season, but doesn’t play any of the top-four teams twice. That seems wrong.

Winners and losers: Every AFL team’s 2026 fixture ranked from easiest to hardest

Winners and losers: Every AFL team’s 2026 fixture ranked from easiest to hardest

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Land of the Giants]

Yes, that is what FoxSports analysis says too. Obviously we don’t know which teams will over perform/ underperform in 2026, but it seems based on 2025 results we were one of the biggest winners.

WINNERS
GWS Giants
We’ll give some credit to the AFL for looking at the Giants’ percentage, not their win-loss record, which always suggested they were one of the weaker 2025 finalists.

But that doesn’t quite explain why they’ve been given a draw that’s this much easier than the rest of the top nine.

Remember, we just spent months talking about how the top nine teams were better than everyone else. Well, eight of those teams copped the eight hardest 2026 draws... and then there’s GWS with the fourth-easiest?!

As we’ll discuss further below, the Giants play fewer 2025 finalists twice (two, Gold Coast and Hawthorn) than wooden spooners West Coast do (three), which doesn’t make any sense.

The Giants’ middle-six opponents, Sydney and St Kilda, are admittedly likely to improve due to health and/or recruiting. This draw could get harder than it sounds right now.

But let’s put it like this - GWS finished fifth in the home and away season, but doesn’t play any of the top-four teams twice. That seems wrong.

Winners and losers: Every AFL team’s 2026 fixture ranked from easiest to hardest

Winners and losers: Every AFL team’s 2026 fixture ranked from easiest to hardest

www.foxsports.com.au

Perhaps the stars are aligning in our favour...

Seriously, we have a tough start to the season - Hawks at home, Dogs away, Saints at home, Pies away.

Need to win at least two. Preferably Hawks and Dogs.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Anyone see St Kilda’s run home?

Rounds 14-24 (10 games)

8 at Marvel
1 in Geelong
1 at the G

But… you know… no Vic bias in this league

 

[Colonial]

 

[Vic pokiesmon]

After there big recruiting spree they would have thought they would get more than 2 prime time games though.Havent looked at Saints reaction online but getting 2 prime time games compared to Carlton’s 7 prime time games is baffling to say the least.If Carlton’s bombs the AFL will rightfully cop it.As a Giant supporter we get used to being shafted in that space.

 

[Battlepants]

After there big recruiting spree they would have thought they would get more than 2 prime time games though.Havent looked at Saints reaction online but getting 2 prime time games compared to Carlton’s 7 prime time games is baffling to say the least.If Carlton’s bombs the AFL will rightfully cop it.As a Giant supporter we get used to being shafted in that space.

You're absolutely right it's baffling. The AFL got panned last season after giving Carlton so many prime time games (even in the floating fixture after it was clear how terrible they were). They're going to be even worse this year after losing Curnow and De Koning.

AFL deserve all the flak they get when that happens. Carlton have no business getting that many prime time games. But I guess that's just one of the many perks of being a big Melbourne based club.

 

[steviewonder36]

Don't say 'interstate' when you mean 'non victorian'.

That is an admission that Victoria does and always will rule the waves.

Alot of interstate fans forget, it is still an expanded VFL when its all said and done.

 

[Colonial]

Alot of interstate fans forget, it is still an expanded VFL when it’s all said and done.

As long as as the media and AFL keep jumping through hoops protecting the VFL then that is all it’ll ever be.

The first sport between NRL and AFL that can push past their suburban state roots will reign supreme in this country.

 

[dlanod]

Alot of interstate fans forget, it is still an expanded VFL when its all said and done.

We don't forget that that's what Victorians wish it to be.

 

[Comedy Capers]

The upside for the AFL is it did not waste money trying to bring the old VFL grounds like Victoria Park, Whitten Oval,
Glenferrie Gluepot, Junction Oval etc up to AFL standard by throwing buckets of money at them.

True, Waverley Park was not a great decision but compared to NRL throwing money at Shark Park, Leichhardt Oval, new ground for Penrith they have taken the right option.

 

[Colonial]

The upside for the AFL is it did not waste money trying to bring the old VFL grounds like Victoria Park, Whitten Oval,
Glenferrie Gluepot, Junction Oval etc up to AFL standard by throwing buckets of money at them.

True, Waverley Park was not a great decision but compared to NRL throwing money at Shark Park, Leichhardt Oval, new ground for Penrith they have taken the right option.

The NRL isn’t throwing money at them. The state government is.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

With our double-ups this/next year being Hawthorn, St Kilda, Swans, Essendon, West Coast, and Gold Coast I thought I’d do a bit of a dive into our double up history (ignoring Sydney because outside Covid that’s every year)

Adelaide (4) ‘23, ‘18, ‘14, ‘12
Brisbane (3) ‘24, ‘22, ‘18
Carlton (5) ‘24, ‘23, ‘22, ‘21, ‘15
Collingwood (0) never
Essendon (4) ‘23, ‘21, ‘19, ‘13
Fremantle (2) ‘22, ‘16
Geelong (3) ‘25, ‘17, ‘16
Gold Coast (7) ‘25, ‘24, ‘19, ‘16, ‘15, ‘13, ‘12
Hawthorn (3) ‘24, ‘23, ‘19
Melbourne (5) ‘21, ‘15, ‘14, ‘13, ‘12
North Melbourne (1) ‘12
Port Adelaide (2) ‘16, ‘13
Richmond (4) ‘21, ‘19, ‘17, ‘14
St Kilda (3) ‘25, ‘18, ‘15
West Coast (3) ‘25, ‘18, ‘17
Western Bulldogs (6) ‘25, ‘24, ‘23, ‘22, ‘17, ‘14

Some interesting patterns, runs, etc. North is a surprise with the only double coming in our first season, nothing since. The cynic in me is not surprised by our complete lack of doubles against Collingwood.