AFL 2024 fixture rankings: Geelong, Carlton set for favourable draw from rounds 8-24

The Pies started slow out of the blocks this season and they could be punished later in the year as a result, with their top four and thus premiership hopes in jeopardy.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: The Magpies leave the field after a draw during the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong’s perfect start to the season has set the Cats up for another flag tilt, with a down year last season helping propel the club into premiership favouritism.

Having suffered significant injuries to integral members of the 2022 premiership side, Geelong slid down the ladder and finished 12th in 2023.

But at 7-0 to start the season this year, Geelong will enjoy the easiest fixture (according to Champion Data) from here on out, giving the Cats a strong chance to claim a top-four spot and play a home final at the newly-refurbished GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats will play each of the other top four sides just once each in the run home, with a massive clash against Melbourne on Saturday at the MCG, before hosting GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium in round 11 and travelling to face the Swans at the SCG in round 13.

Geelong are primed to make a run at the flag in 2024. Picture: Getty Images

However, the Cats get to play a second match against bottom-two sides Hawthorn and North Melbourne, and still have games against 16th-placed Richmond, 15th-placed West Coast, and 14th-placed St Kilda.

The Cats will also host seven of their final 16 games at Kardinia Park, and will leave Victoria just four times on the run home, with a trip to Darwin (vs Gold Coast), Sydney (vs Sydney), Tasmania (vs North Melbourne), and Perth (vs Fremantle).

Sixth-placed Carlton also has the third-easiest fixture from here, with just seven games against fellow top-eight opponents to finish the season.

The Bulldogs have the hardest fixture according to Champion Data. Picture: Getty Images

The Blues also have seven MCG matches, as well as five Marvel Stadium clashes, on their way home.

The Western Bulldogs are on the opposite end of the spectrum, with their fixture graded the hardest end to the season.

The Bulldogs, who are 11th with a 3-4 record, will have to face the current top four sides six times in the final 16 matches, as well as the other teams vying for finals (9th-14th) another six times.

With softer clashes against Hawthorn and Richmond in the next two weeks, the Bulldogs will then launch into a tough month of football, facing third-placed GWS at ENGIE Stadium, second-placed Sydney, 2023 premiers Collingwood and then the runners-up Brisbane.

Originally published as AFL 2024 fixture rankings: Geelong, Carlton set for favourable draw from rounds 8-24