It’s Christmas time for AFL nerds. The AFL today released its 2017 home-and-away season fixture to great fanfare and fascination from fans. It takes time to fully digest this thing, but for now, here’s the basic facts and figures.
As I remarked last season, the fixture is one of the AFL’s most important policy levers. Scheduling is critical to the game’s success – as we saw in 2015 when Friday nights developed a bit of a stink about them due to the continued presence of a no good Carlton side.
The fixture controls which teams get the most, and best quality, exposure, and which teams are left battling for attention.
It’s little wonder, then, that this morning’s release was quite a grand occasion. There were live streams, press conferences, instant pundit analysis and hot takes flying left, right and centre.
As is my wont, I’ll spend this evening pouring over the details to come up with some more weighty insights for you to chew on during a lazy Friday afternoon – or over the weekend if that’s more your style.
For now, here’s the basic facts and figures for each team: days played, time slots, double ups, consecutive six-day breaks, stadiums and states where games are played.
For a full version of the AFL fixture, head over to Josh’s piece.
And if you want to do your own analysis, here’s a link to an Excel-based version of the fixture. Despite constant badgering by fans, the AFL still don’t release their fixture in Excel, so I’ve filled that gap in the market.
| Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | |
| Adelaide | 1 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brisbane | 0 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlton | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Collingwood | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Essendon | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Geelong | 2 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Gold Coast | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| GWS | 0 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawthorn | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Port Adelaide | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Richmond | 2 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| StKilda | 0 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sydney | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| WCE | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Bulldogs | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
*excludes Round 23
| Team | 5 days | 6 days | 7 days | 8 days | 9 days | 10 days | Mid year bye | CSDB | vs CSDB |
| Adelaide | 0 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Brisbane | 0 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlton | 0 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Collingwood | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Essendon | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Geelong | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Gold Coast | 0 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| GWS | 0 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Hawthorn | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Port Adelaide | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Richmond | 0 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| StKilda | 0 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Sydney | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| WCE | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
*CSDB: Consecutive six day break
| Day | Twilight | Night | |
| Adelaide | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| Brisbane | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Carlton | 12 | 2 | 7 |
| Collingwood | 13 | 3 | 5 |
| Essendon | 9 | 2 | 10 |
| Fremantle | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Geelong | 8 | 2 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| GWS | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Hawthorn | 11 | 2 | 8 |
| Melbourne | 13 | 3 | 5 |
| North Melbourne | 12 | 3 | 6 |
| Port Adelaide | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Richmond | 9 | 3 | 9 |
| StKilda | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Sydney | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| WCE | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Western Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 11 |
*excludes Round 23
| China | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | |
| Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Brisbane | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Carlton | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Collingwood | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Essendon | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Fremantle | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 12 |
| Geelong | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Gold Coast | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| GWS | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Hawthorn | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| Melbourne | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| North Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 1 |
| Port Adelaide | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Richmond | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| StKilda | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 2 |
| Sydney | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| WCE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 12 |
| Western Bulldogs | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Team | Adelaide Oval | Blundstone Arena | Cazalys Stadium | Domain Stadium | Etihad Stadium | Eureka Stadium | Gabba | Jiangwan Sports Centre | Manuka Oval | MCG | Metricon Stadium | SCG | Simonds Stadium | Spotless Stadium | TIO Stadium | TIO Traeger Park | University of Tasmania Stadium |
| Adelaide | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brisbane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Carlton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Collingwood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Essendon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fremantle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Geelong | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gold Coast | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GWS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Hawthorn | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| North Melbourne | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Port Adelaide | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richmond | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| StKilda | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sydney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Bulldogs | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | Adelaide | Brisbane | Carlton | Collingwood | Essendon | Fremantle | Geelong | Gold Coast | GWS | Hawthorn | Melbourne | NMFC | Port Adelaide | Richmond | St Kilda | Sydney | WCE | Western Bulldogs |
| Adelaide | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Brisbane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Carlton | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Collingwood | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Essendon | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Fremantle | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Geelong | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Gold Coast | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| GWS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Hawthorn | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Melbourne | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| North Melbourne | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Port Adelaide | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Richmond | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| StKilda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Sydney | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| WCE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Western Bulldogs | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Come back tomorrow morning for an extended take on the 2017 AFL fixture.
Kezza
Guest
Thank you for extrapolating all this great info into a spreadsheet and giving us the stats, it really is great. I'm just wondering if you could also include which teams are televised on free to air TV. I've done a quick analysis and made some notes on my PDF printed fixture and for the first 6 rounds just of the three teams I noticed... StKilda (my team) Carlton (my partner's team) and Collingwood the team I always barrack for the other team they play! Out of the first 6 rounds Collingwood are on channel 7 six times in the first six rounds. Carlton four times and StKilda a measly 2 times.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
I've since discovered that I hadn't updated the six day break formula in my fixture workbook - in fact the column was hard coded with last year's data. Apologies!
Darren
Guest
Melbourne plays Collingwood on Monday 12 June, then Bulldogs Sunday 18 June (6 days). Then travels to Perth for West Coast on Saturday 24 June (another 6 days), then backs up the 4 hour flight with another 6 day break, playing Sydney on Friday night 30 June. How is that 0 CSDB in the table!?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The biggest impact may be in the differential of the break between both teams last game, especially if one team is coming off a six day break and the other has had a longer break.
I hate pies
Guest
30,000 for North vs WC might be a bit ambitious. North have some pretty filthy fans at the moment.
Brian
Guest
Only one MCG game for GWS before they travel there for the Grand Final
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Worth mentioning that the first round next season is likely to smash the all-time round attendance, which currently stands at 367,792 achieved in 2012. Some estimates of attendances, keeping it relatively conservative: Carl vs Rich (MCG): 75,000 Coll vs Dogs (MCG): 70,000 Syd vs Port (SCG): 35,000 St K vs Melb (Eti): 32,000 Ess vs Haw (MCG): 80,000 Suns vs Bris (Met): 16,000 North vs WCE (Eti): 30,000 Adel vs GWS (AO): 44,000 Freo vs Gee (Dom): 36,000 Est total attendance: 418,000 (average of 46,444)
mattyb
Guest
I noticed that but I don't think the Doggies will complain to much. I guess the home side might have better signage and dinners for the sponsors and have the say in entertainment and so forth. Still,I'm sure the dogs will be happy enough with the exposure and I'm sure the sponsors will be to.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Melbourne also doesn't go to NSW (in fact, they go to the ACT instead).
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Just curious what's the impact of being the home team for a Friday night vs the away team? Cos Bulldogs got 8 Friday nights with 2 at home, while Sydney got 8 with 3 at home
Mister Football
Roar Guru
China and the NT get a mention under states played in, but no cigar for the ACT!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Ryan ....the AFL still don’t release their fixture in Excel, so I’ve filled that gap in the market. I'm starting to worry about you. :)
Wayne
Roar Guru
Everyone goes to Adelaide Everyone goes to Perth 2 Teams don't go to NSW (Adelaide and North Melbourne) 3 Teams don't go to QLD (Melbourne, Saints, Sydney) Good to see everyone gets a game on the MCG. Surprised both SA Teams only make one trip to Docklands.
TomC
Roar Guru
Great stuff, Ryan. Very handy set of reference tables. Good to see the AFL are prepared to give the reigning grand finallists the lion's share of Friday night games, rather than the bigger clubs.