2020 AFL fixture: See how difficult your club’s fixture is
Collingwood finished fourth and lost the Preliminary Final last season and, on first look, has been stung by a late-season double trip to Perth. But looks can be deceiving, with Champion Data rating its draw far easier than 2019.
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West Coast may have Tim Kelly, but they’ve also got next year’s toughest draw.
Champion Data believes the Eagles have been hit with the most challenging fixture next season, ahead of Hawthorn.
The AFL’s official analyst has released its draw difficulty ladder, ranked from hardest to easiest, with Gold Coast the eye-braising club in third despite claiming this year’s wooden spoon.
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The table is based solely on each teams percentage at the end of the 2019 home and away season and, as an extension, who plays who twice.
As harsh as it sounds, the Suns’ ownership of the third-most difficult draw in 2020 is explained by the fact they can’t play themselves.
Clearly, getting two games against Gold Coast next year is a prized result and the five teams handed that opportunity – Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Sydney and Melbourne – could all make finals.
The Eagles face difficult double ups against top six sides Richmond, Geelong and Collingwood.
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West Coast’s neighbour Fremantle has been given the easiest draw, with the Eagles the only top-line side the Dockers play twice.
Sydney (17th) is also deemed to have an easier fixture.
Twelve months after copping the hardest fixture in the land, Champion Data has Collingwood 11th.
The Pies play Richmond, Brisbane and West Coast twice, while also getting two meetings with Essendon.
Collingwood has to make two trips to Perth in three weeks late in the season, but 17 of its 22 games will be played in Melbourne.
“From a football perspective, with no back-to-back travel and our six day breaks between matches generally spaced out, the 2020 fixture meets a lot of our requirements,” Pies chief executive Mark Anderson said.
“Two trips to Perth late in the season is not ideal and a six day break after the second of them will present a challenge, but on the whole there is a lot to like about our 2020 fixture.”
Despite just winning its second flag in three years, Richmond is only seventh on the difficulty ladder.
The premier has been hit with Grand Final opponent GWS twice, along with Collingwood and West Coast.
The Tigers have got 14 games at the MCG – one more than last season – but have to go interstate six times, up from five.
Originally published as 2020 AFL fixture: See how difficult your club’s fixture is