AFL Fixture 2023: Full analysis, fallout as every Crows, Power game revealed

The AFL fixture has thrown up an early Showdown for Port and Crows fans, here’s why it could be make or break for both teams.

Adelaide will only have to travel twice before the start of May in what shapes as a crucial fixture run in the club’s quest to return to September action next year.

Although the Crows have five of their opening seven matches at Adelaide Oval, including four in a row from rounds two to five, three of them are against last season’s finalists.

Adelaide launches its campaign on the road to GWS on Sunday, March 19, then plays its first home match versus Richmond in a Saturday twilight contest on March 25.

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Next is an away, Saturday night Showdown on April 1, a visit from 2022 semi-finalist Fremantle before meeting Carlton in Gather Round, as South Australia hosts all 18 clubs.

Adelaide’s second interstate trip is a clash with Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday, April 23 before it returns home to host Collingwood in round 7.

Notching early wins from that draw would give the Crows a strong launch pad to make the top eight for the first time since 2017.

They started 3-1 in 2021 and 3-3 this year, only to then suffer five-match losing streaks that derailed their seasons.

Adelaide’s five-year major-round absence may have cost it the chance to play in more marquee games in 2023.

Last season’s 14th-placed side has just one Thursday or Friday night match among the first 15 rounds – the football festival clash against the Blues on April 13.

Details are yet to be revealed for the last nine games.

The Crows have just two 2022 finalists among their six double-up fixtures: Brisbane and Collingwood.

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Gold Coast, GWS, the Power and West Coast are the others.

Along with trips to Sydney and Tasmania, Adelaide heads to Geelong (round 8) and Ballarat (round 10 versus the Western Bulldogs) for the second year in a row, Darwin (round 12 against Gold Coast) for the first time since 2019, Brisbane (round 22) and Perth (round 24, West Coast).

Port Adelaide will have to negotiate a tough first month of the season to avoid another finals-killing slow start.

After going 0-5 last campaign and missing the top eight, the Power will face four premiership contenders in the first five weeks next year, opening against Brisbane at home on Saturday, March 18 before facing Collingwood at the MCG.

Beyond the Showdown, Ken Hinkley’s side has a trip to the SCG to take on beaten grand finalist Sydney before meeting 2021 preliminary final nemesis Western Bulldogs in Adelaide in a Saturday night Gather Round clash.

How Port Adelaide fares from those initial five matches will again have a big bearing on where it finishes.

Finishing 11th last season has not stopped the Power from receiving four prime time matches on Thursday or Friday nights.

Those games are against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium (round 7), Melbourne at home (10), the Bulldogs away (13) and reigning premier Geelong in a Thursday night blockbuster at Adelaide Oval (14).

The Power has its bye in round 15.

Four of Port Adelaide’s six double-up games are against 2022 finalists: Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond and the Dogs.

The other two clubs are the Crows, whom it plays again in round 20, and Essendon.

Port Adelaide ends its minor-round campaign at home to Richmond.