AFL Fixture Analysis: Clubs Facing Bottom Trio Multiple Times
Key Points
- Only three clubs face four games against West Coast, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne.
- Geelong and Gold Coast have the opportunity for significant wins against these teams.
- North Melbourne's chances of success lie in matches against the other cellar-dwellers.
Teams Facing Double-Ups
Just three clubs have drawn four games against the bottom trio of West Coast, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne in 2024:
- Geelong: Facing North Melbourne twice and Hawthorn once.
- Gold Coast: Scheduled for two matches against North Melbourne and two against West Coast.
- North Melbourne: Facing Hawthorn and West Coast twice each.
Teams Facing Single Matchups
All other clubs have a single double-up against one of Hawthorn, West Coast, or North Melbourne. This includes:
- Brisbane, Sydney, and Port Adelaide, who will face the bottom trio only once.
Implications for Ladder Positions
The double-up aspect of fixtures is influenced by the previous season's ladder positions:
- The Suns and Roos finished in the bottom third last year, providing Geelong with an advantage in their middle third position.
North Melbourne's Challenging Start
North Melbourne has faced a particularly difficult start to the season, facing several potential finals contenders:
- Greater Western Sydney
- Fremantle
- Carlton
- Brisbane
- Geelong
Bottom Three Double-Ups
Here is a list of all the teams facing double-ups against Hawthorn, West Coast, or North Melbourne:
- Adelaide: Hawthorn
- Brisbane: None
- Carlton: North Melbourne
- Collingwood: Hawthorn
- Essendon: West Coast
- Fremantle: West Coast
- Geelong: Hawthorn, North Melbourne
- Gold Coast: North Melbourne, West Coast
- Greater Western Sydney: Hawthorn
- Hawthorn: North Melbourne
- Melbourne: West Coast
- North Melbourne: Hawthorn, West Coast
- Port Adelaide: None
- Richmond: Hawthorn
- St Kilda: West Coast
- Sydney: None
- West Coast: North Melbourne
- Western Bulldogs: North Melbourne