Fixture 2026 Fixture

[Scholz Supremacy]

After the debacle that was Ken Hinkley’s farewell tour, expect us to receive a similar draw to last year I.e hardly any prime time games on FTA and that we’ll get sent to all corners like Geelong, Ballarat, Tassie, Canberra, Alice Springs etc. I expect quite a few Sunday games too.

A 13th placed finish in 2025 should net us a bottom 6 fixture though.

 

[SonOfKek]

A bottom 6 fixture would be ideal for players returning from injury. If we notch up some decent wins, and build momentum towards those tougher fixtures (especially with our stocks and a revamped game plan) then why can't we dare to dream?

 

[RossFC]

Request:
Richmond and West Coast twice.
Gold Coast away.
North Melb at Marvel (and if possible at home).
Collingwood and Geelong at home.
Home ANZAC round game.

Avoid:
The Gabba.
Geelong away.
Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Hawthorn in Tassie.

If we play Melbourne in the NT and GWS in Canberra that's fine.

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

Double up guesses:

Top 6: Adelaide, Fremantle
Mid 6: Sydney, St Kilda
Bottom 6: Melbourne, Richmond

I have a feeling we’ll get Melbourne twice, because we’re the only two teams with new coaches in 2026, even though that doesn’t matter or mean anything.

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

Collingwood at home is a must. Only ever played them at Adelaide Oval 3 times (2015, 2017, 2023).

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

Who might we play in Gather Round? There’s no Hinkley-Ginnivan arc for them to use this time.

 

[Capital Power]

As a bottom 6 team, shouldn't we only have one top 6 double up, presumably the Crows?

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

As a bottom 6 team, shouldn't we only have one top 6 double up, presumably the Crows?

If that’s how it works then yeah.

 

[Portpowerfan20040621]

Request:
Richmond and West Coast twice.
Gold Coast away.
North Melb in Tassie (and if possible at home).
Collingwood and Geelong at home.
Home ANZAC round game.

Avoid:
The Gabba.
Geelong away.
Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Hawthorn in Tassie.

If we play Melbourne in the NT and GWS in Canberra that's fine.

Sorry Ross no north Melbourne in Tasmania anymore since that deal is done. The two games they had in Tassie this year are now back in Melbourne so yeah If we were to play them away it would be at Marvel

 

[RossFC]

Sorry Ross no north Melbourne in Tasmania anymore. If we were to play them away it would be at Marvel

Ok fine with that. No Tassie at all then.

 

[Portpowerfan20040621]

Who might we play in Gather Round? There’s no Hinkley-Ginnivan arc for them to use this time.

You would think after the hawthorn gather round game we had the crows would get Collingwood after what happened with Rankine but the VFL will more than likely put Collingwood as a stand alone game at Adelaide oval since their fan base can fill Adelaide oval apparently

 

[Relativity]

Meh. I'd rather be tested against the better teams and fail (and learn) than play against the crappier teams and be led into a "false dawn" only to be found out in finals.

 

[Portwrld]

My Requests:

• Collingwood at home
• Home ANZAC game preferably on ANZAC Day at night against a big Victorian team naturally we won’t get Collingwood or Essendon for that round.
• Richmond and West Coast twice
• Any away games against Victorian teams to be played to be played at either the MCG or Marvel.
• North Melbourne twice

Avoid:

• Ballarat
• GMHBA
• Any games in Tassie especially in winter.
• GWS in Canberra

Edit:
Unpopular opinion, but I would to take on Brisbane twice why? I would like us to take on what is currently the best team in the league and gain as much experience against the top team, while also testing ourselves against the best. Ultimately, if we are going to win a flag hopefully in the near future, we've got to beat teams like Brisbane.

 

[Lefti93]

We're going undefeated, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Andre]

Collingwood at home is a must. Only ever played them at Adelaide Oval 3 times (2015, 2017, 2023).

Unlikely. Every club asks for them at home, for the crowd numbers help. Adelaide gets the higher drawing teams and better timeslots than Port most years. I think AFL logic is Crows base crowds + good drawing oppositions teams/times plus Port base crowds + lower drawing opposition teams/times looks better, as there'll be a few really big crowds at AO every year, than sharing the better teams / timeslots, even though the overall figures across the season for the two teams would remain about the same.

 

[MrChow]

Meh. I'd rather be tested against the better teams and fail (and learn) than play against the crappier teams and be led into a "false dawn" only to be found out in finals.

It’s just getting the right balance I think, injuries, hot streaks, who you play away and at home and when.

Gotta bank some early wins, and would be good to have less travel in the last 4-6 rounds if finals is on the cards

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

Fixture out next week.

Expect Opening Round, Round 1 and Gather Round to be dropped over the next few days.

 

[Andy_B]

Fixture out next week.

Expect Opening Round, Round 1 and Gather Round to be dropped over the next few days.

they are closer to winning the spoon then playing finals

bombers getting dropped from prime time seems like a no brainer

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

they are closer to winning the spoon then playing finals

bombers getting dropped from prime time seems like a no brainer

They're my tip for the spoon.

 

[240volt]

They're my tip for the spoon.

Massive mistake not trading Merrett,will set them back years.

 

[240volt]

We should get a soft arse draw considering we got shit last year.

 

[TazD]

They're my tip for the spoon.

Nah, West Coast has it in the bag

 

[Greasyrhys]

Definitely want to play the pies at home, no reason why we should only host them once every 4 years. Won’t mind playing the hawks at the ‘G, been a long time. Also hope we don’t play the tiggers at home, only in 1998 and 2011 have we not played them in Adelaide.

 

[Grave Danger]

Fixture out next week.

Expect Opening Round, Round 1 and Gather Round to be dropped over the next few days.

Haha - this seems to be as popular with Essendon supporters as much as anyone else.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Clubs are expecting the AFL to introduce a wildcard round in 2026, giving teams that finish as low as 10th on the ladder after the home-and-away season a chance to qualify for finals and win the flag. The wildcard round would mean the team that finishes seventh on the ladder in the home-and-away season would play the team that finished 10th, and the team that finished eighth would play the ninth-placed team.
It would add intrigue to where clubs finish inside the top eight too, as the top six would be rewarded with the week’s break.
It is expected a wildcard round would be played on the weekend of the pre-finals bye, which was introduced in 2016. It would be a money-spinner for the league and good for the broadcasters.

Finals shake-up looms as clubs get set for wildcard round in 2026

The AFL is likely to introduce a wildcard round in 2026 as the clubs wait for the fixture to be finalised this week.

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