Every club’s 2020 fixture analysed
Matches at the MCG? Not many interstate trips? Double up matches against finalists or bottom eight sides from 2019? See the positives and negatives of your club’s 2020 fixture.
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The AFL has released the fixture for the 2020 season and some clubs have fared better than others when it comes to prime time matches and double up games.
We’ve cast our eyes over every club’s fixture for next year and analysed the positives and negatives.
How did your club fare? Read our analysis below.
MORE NEWS:
AFL releases 2020 fixture: See every match, live news updates
The AFL matches you can’t miss in 2020 after release of fixture
See who every team plays twice in season 2020
ADELAIDE
Big win: Four of their first five games are at Adelaide Oval, followed by St Kilda, Gold Coast, Fremantle, Melbourne and Carlton.
Big loss: A lack of prime time exposure on Friday nights (two games), plus trips to Perth, Gold Coast, Alice Springs, Geelong, Sydney and Tasmania.
TV: Not great, but that comes with two seasons of missing finals.
Must-see game: Apart from the obvious Showdowns, hosting Richmond in Round 20 on a Friday night is mouth-watering.
– Jon Anderson
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BRISBANE LIONS
Big win: This is a soft draw for the Lions. Only two double-up games against top-six sides and they don’t leave Queensland in the last three weeks.
Big loss: Only thing the Lions’ Melbourne fans aren’t happy about is the club plays five games in Melbourne instead of six.
TV: Back on the big stage on a Thursday and Friday night. The Lions will host four bumper prime time games at the Gabba in Rounds 4, 8, 14 and 15.
Must-see game: Brisbane will host the Magpies on Easter Thursday in Round 4 in their now-regular contest at the Gabba.
– Jay Clark
CARLTON
Big win: Only play one top-six side – Richmond – twice and they don’t leave Melbourne in the last seven weeks. Five interstate games is one less than last year.
Big loss: No Friday night games for the second year running.
TV: Two prime time Thursdays in the first three rounds against powerhouse rivals Richmond and Essendon.
Must see game: Season-opener against the Tigers.
Club says: “We could not be more excited for the 2020 season after receiving today’s fixture, with massive games and a spread of timeslots to suit our growing membership base.” – CEO Cain Liddle
– Sam Edmund
COLLINGWOOD
Big Win: Once again a lot of MCG love with 14 games, five against interstate clubs.
Big Loss: Tough double ups including Richmond, West Coast and Brisbane.
TV: Eight prime time games, including five on Friday night.
Must see game: West Coast v Collingwood, Round 22, Perth.
– Scott Gullan
ESSENDON
Big win: The Bombers face only one finalist in the first five rounds after middling starts to previous seasons.
Big loss: Double-ups against two of the top four (GWS and Collingwood) and just one bottom-six team (Sydney). Toughest draw of the ‘middle six’ clubs, compounded by three road trips in last seven rounds, one five-day break and seven six-day breaks. Two more games at Marvel Stadium compared to the MCG. Ouch, Woosha (Rutten).
TV: Four Thursday nights and two Friday nights an enormous win for a club still chasing its first finals win since 2004, although three of those are trips interstate.
Must-see game: Round 2 – Joe Daniher visits the SCG, the ground he wanted to call home in 2020. Daniher is the early favourite to be the story of the year.
– Sam Landsberger
FREMANTLE
Big win: Double-ups against three bottom sixers – St Kilda, Melbourne, Suns.
Big loss: One of only two teams with no Thursday/Friday night contest.
TV: Four night games Optus Stadium including Cats on a Sunday night in Round 6.
Must-see game: James Aish Cup in Round 19 in a Sunday twilight game.
– Jon Ralph
GEELONG
Big win: Six prime time Friday night games – the equal-most of any club.
Big loss: Only nine home games at GMHBA Stadium, despite lobbying for 11.
TV: 12 games on free-to-air, half on Friday nights.
Must-see game: Round 5 v St Kilda. Shaping as Garry Ablett’s 350th game and Joel Selwood’s 300th.
Club says: “The 2020 fixture includes an array of timeslots for our home games which is sure to please our members and supporters.” — acting CEO Simon Kelleher said.
– Chris Cavanagh
GOLD COAST
Big win: Home games against Carlton and Hawthorn during key tourism times of Queen’s Birthday long weekend and school holiday period.
Big loss: No Collingwood or Essendon at Metricon.
TV: Not many, with no Thursday or Friday night games.
Must-see game: Round 18 at Metricon when Brandon Ellis comes up against his former Richmond teammates.
Club says: “We know that a mix of matches at Metricon Stadium across the afternoon and twilight timeslots really suits our family market.” – acting CEO Simon Fitzgibbon
– Nick Smart
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Big win: Make that wins, with most of their interstate travel directed towards Victoria where they play eight matches as opposed to three in 2019.
Big loss: Very little, other than playing Richmond, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and Sydney twice.
TV: Excellent, with five Saturday nights and two Friday nights.
Must-see game: When they return to the MCG in Round 7 for a Saturday afternoon clash against their 2019 nemesis Richmond.
Club reaction: “We’re extremely pleased with our draw with a healthy number of prime time games,” – Chief Operating Officer James Avery
– Jon Anderson
HAWTHORN
Big win: Two home Friday night games against Melbourne and Geelong and a Round 3 blockbuster against Collingwood to help fill-up the club’s coffers.
Big loss: They don’t like playing home games at Marvel Stadium but the Hawks have been given one in Round 5 against Carlton.
TV: Couple of big Thursday night games in Rounds 15 (Brisbane Lions) and 16 (Essendon) ensures we’ll see plenty of the Hawks in prime time in the second half of the season.
Must see game: The Easter Monday clash against Geelong is always one of the games of the season.
– Jay Clark
MELBOURNE
Big win: Get 10 home games at the MCG for the first time since 2010 and only have one top-six team twice – Collingwood.
Big loss: Seven interstate trips, plus a game in Geelong is a bit of travel.
TV: Anzac Eve has become a thing, Queen’s Birthday is good exposure and they get three Friday night games despite a woeful 2018.
Must watch: Anzac Eve
Club says: “Melbourne supporters have made it clear they would like to see the Darwin home match return to the MCG as soon as possible, so I’m sure they will be delighted that we’re playing 10 home games there in 2020.” – CEO Gary Pert
– Sam Edmund
NORTH MELBOURNE
Big Win: Keep Good Friday and only cop one team (Brisbane) from the top six last year.
Big Loss: Caught in a tough double-up group with improving Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs.
TV: Off-Broadway with only one Friday night game.
Must see game: North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Round 4, Good Friday, Marvel Stadium.
– Scott Gullan
PORT ADELAIDE
Big win: Not quite Blockbuster King, but maybe the Prime Time Prince with home Anzac Day and Good Friday games against Western Bulldogs and West Coast respectively. Fans should keep Friday and Saturday nights free – 11 party-starting games (four on Friday and seven on Saturday), including six at Adelaide Oval.
Big loss: Seven six-day breaks, which is three more than this year, plus off-Broadway fixtures in Ballarat and Launceston.
TV: A stand-alone Showdown in Round 13 – it’s the only game on – should capture the eyes of the nation. Yes, it’s a Sunday, but a ratings bonanza could lead to a Friday centrepiece fixture in 2021.
Must-see game: Round 2 – wearing the black and white prison bars strip in a home showdown against Adelaide to mark the club’s 150th birthday. That will be rocking.
– Sam Landsberger
RICHMOND
Big win: Eight prime time games, including six Fridays and two Thursdays.
Big loss: Round 23 travel to Perth to play Fremantle after rails run last season.
TV: 12 free-to-air games and massive prime time exposure.
Must-see game: Round 1 v the Blues might be a contest for the first time in forever.
– Jon Ralph
ST KILDA
Big win: First eight matches in Victoria, seven at Marvel Stadium.
Big loss: Serious lack of prime time.
TV: Only one Friday night game and no Thursday night matches.
Must-see game: Round 1 v North Melbourne. How will the new recruits go?
Club says: “To have no significant travel in the first eight rounds provides our Victorian-based supporters with the opportunity to come out in big numbers and get behind the team.” – acting CEO Simon Lethlean
– Chris Cavanagh
SYDNEY
Big win: Games against Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn at the SCG.
Big loss: No game in Victoria until Round 9.
TV ratings bonanza: First home game against Essendon in Round 2 on Friday night.
Must-see game: First Sydney Derby against GWS Giants in Round 5.
Club says: “It will be great to welcome some of the big-drawing Melbourne clubs to the SCG across a range of timeslots and days that will be sure to appeal to members and supporters alike” – CEO Tom Harley
– Nick Smart
WEST COAST
Big win: No games in Sydney.
Big loss: Double ups against Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong, and a trip to Tasmania.
TV ratings: Four Friday night games, and an Anzac Day clash with Hawthorn in Tassie.
Must-see game: Round 3 when Tim Kelly faces the Cats, and then at GMHBA in Round 16 for his return to Geelong.
– Nick Smart
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Big win: Best of the lot. The Dogs play only one finalist (GWS) twice and have two double-up games against bottom sides Carlton and Fremantle
Big loss: The Dogs are delighted. Nothing to complain about.
TV: We’ll be seeing lots of this superstar midfield on the telly next year. Five Friday night games including Round 1 (Collingwood) and Good Friday (North Melbourne).
Must-see game: We’ll see two of the best onball brigades go head-to-head against Collingwood under lights in Round 1.
– Jay Clark