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.

 

[Giant YoYo]

Caro reporting on The Agenda Setters that opening round will be scrapped and that it's unlikely Giants will have access to Engie stadium for the AFL round one in 2027 due to the Easter show.

Given this and the Easter show running till 30th March 2027, I'd say earliest game we might have at Engie is towards the end of April 2027.

If Gather Round is mid April next year it'll probably be end of April. Doesn't seem awfully ideal for Sydney games unless they get creative for the first game at Engie to open the season at Engie a couple games into the season with a bit of a bang.

I'd imagine a couple games would be played in Canberra during this time.

2015 had the first game at Engie in round 6 against Hawthorn on the 9th of May so doesn't appear unprecedented.

 

[Colonial]

Ffs

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Caro reporting on The Agenda Setters that opening round will be scrapped and that it's unlikely Giants will have access to Engie stadium for the AFL round one in 2027 due to the Easter show.

Given this and the Easter show running till 30th March 2027, I'd say earliest game we might have at Engie is towards the end of April 2027.

If Gather Round is mid April next year it'll probably be end of April. Doesn't seem awfully ideal for Sydney games unless they get creative for the first game at Engie to open the season at Engie a couple games into the season with a bit of a bang.

I'd imagine a couple games would be played in Canberra during this time.

2015 had the first game at Engie in round 6 against Hawthorn on the 9th of May so doesn't appear unprecedented.

So Collingwood and the Vics had their way in having Opening Round scrapped? What happened to our AFL CEO’s constant reiterating of the importance of Opening Round to the non-heartland states?

 

[Comedy Capers]

REmember that the MCG.is not available for the round on March 11 due to the 150th anniversary test so maybe Giants will still be able to play a round 1 match at home.

The scrapping of round 0 of it happens is due to the Mexican whingers who would prefer that the non victorian clubs cease to exist but that would mean massively reduced revenue for the AFL .

They are happy for us to get high draft picks and have us develop players then have them to return to mummy after their first contract eg Bruhn.

 

[Giant YoYo]

REmember that the MCG.is not available for the round on March 11 due to the 150th anniversary test so maybe Giants will still be able to play a round 1 match at home.

Apparently/reportedly round one next year for all will be from the 18th March 2027 due to the MCG availability as the AFL won't forgo an MCG game so the whole season is pushed back as a result.

Easter show is from the 19-30 March 2027.

I'd be interested to know what the lockout period is for AFL games before the Easter show. Based on this year's schedule it appears to be close to 2 weeks before the Easter show. If they were to have round one a week before, playing on Saturday/Sunday the 13-14th March puts us around a week before the Easter show on the 19th March 2027.

If we go near to filling the stadium, having large parts of the precinct shut down would likely make it an unpleasant experience to enter for the game just before the show as it every year even with a crowd half the size of our last three opening games.

Wouldn't be surprised if the total crowd capacity of the ground reduces due to the Easter show closures/ rides due to safety requirements (only one entrance and exit) that we might not be aware about ?

Sadly, given the above, I can't see them going ahead with the start of a season game for next year even if round one was a week before but happy to be corrected/surprised.

 

[dlanod]

2015 had the first game at Engie in round 6 against Hawthorn on the 9th of May so doesn't appear unprecedented.

Yeah. That was shit.

 

[dlanod]

Apparently/reportedly round one next year for all will be from the 18th March 2027 due to the MCG availability as the AFL won't forgo an MCG game so the whole season is pushed back as a result.

Right. That seems par for the course, let's screw over the rest of the comp because of the unavailability of one ground.

Easter show is from the 19-30 March 2027.

I'd be interested to know what the lockout period is for AFL games before the Easter show. Based on this year's schedule it appears to be close to 2 weeks before the Easter show. If they were to have round one a week before, playing on Saturday/Sunday the 13-14th March puts us around a week before the Easter show on the 19th March 2027.

The lockout period is generally ~1.5 weeks (since the show generally starts midweek).

If we go near to filling the stadium, having large parts of the precinct shut down would likely make it an unpleasant experience to enter for the game just before the show as it every year even with a crowd half the size of our last three opening games.

It's not optimal but it's happened plenty of times - at least twice we had to walk all the way up to the train station to enter, and others (like this year) we would need to traipse around and avoid a lot of construction. It definitely hasn't been a deal breaker for anyone that I've seen. At most it's a minor annoyance.

Wouldn't be surprised if the total crowd capacity of the ground reduces due to the Easter show closures/ rides due to safety requirements (only one entrance and exit) that we might not be aware about ?

Sadly, given the above, I can't see them going ahead with the start of a season game for next year even if round one was a week before but happy to be corrected/surprised.

The crowd capacity can reduce if the front rows have been removed, but unless we're playing Sydney it's not like that substantially affects matters.

I doubt the AFL is going to bother jumping through hoops to give us any kind of help on this front regardless.