Both South Australian teams could be aided by
Adelaide and Port Adelaide each went 5-1 against the sides they are set to play twice next season, the best records of any teams across the competition.
Conversely, Hawthorn and Melbourne – who boosted their premiership chances with strong NAB AFL Trade Periods – each went 2-5 against the teams they will play twice in 2019.
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The Crows have
Adelaide has never lost to Gold Coast – and has never scored fewer than 100 points against the expansion side – in their 11 meetings. The Crows also have an imposing 8-0 record against the Saints dating back to midway through the 2012 season.
Port Adelaide takes on Brisbane twice next year, a team it has won seven of its past eight matches against, with Richmond the only 2018 finalist it will play both home and away.
But while the South Australian teams may look at the 2019 fixture in a positive light, flag fancies Hawthorn and Melbourne will battle an imposing schedule based on last year's results.
The Hawks face the Cats twice next year, a team they beat on both occasions last
That record includes two losses to Brisbane, along with defeats at the hands of Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne
Compounding issues for the Hawks is a poor recent record against both the Giants and the Eagles, having not recorded wins against the pair since 2014 and 2015 respectively.
PROS AND CONS AFL Media's verdict on our fixture
Melbourne, who also has a 2-5 record against the teams it will play twice, will be forced to relive its preliminary final hammering at the hands of West Coast on two occasions in 2019. However, the Demons did enjoy success in Perth against the Eagles in round 22.
Elsewhere, the draw has worked
Greater Western Sydney, which will be looking to improve on a semi-final berth from last year, went 6-3 when matched against the teams it is set to face twice next year.
Promisingly for the Giants, they also kept the Suns to a score of 4.2 (26) when they played them in 2018, while they limited the Swans to 4.6 (30) in last year's elimination final. They play both twice next season.
Fremantle could also have a slight advantage in terms of its 2019 fixture following an off-season where it attracted recruits Reece Conca, Rory Lobb, Jesse Hogan
Unsurprisingly, Carlton has the worst record against the teams it will double-up against next year. After a season where the Blues won just two games for the campaign, Brendon Bolton's side has a 1-6 record against the teams it takes on home and away.
TEAM | OPPONENTS | W | L |
ADEL | Geelong, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast | 5 | 1 |
BRIS | Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Nth Melb, Port Adel, Western Bulldogs | 3 | 5 |
CARL | Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney, Western Bulldogs | 1 | 6 |
COLL | Essendon, Melbourne, Richmond, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | 5 | 5 |
ESS | Collingwood, Fremantle, GWS, North Melbourne, Sydney | 4 | 3 |
FREM | Essendon, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, West Coast, Western Bulldogs | 4 | 4 |
GEEL | Adelaide, Hawthorn, Nth Melb, Sydney, Western Bulldogs | 2 | 4 |
GC | Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, GWS, St Kilda | 2 | 5 |
GWS | Essendon, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Richmond, Sydney | 6 | 3 |
HAW | Brisbane, Geelong, GWS, North Melbourne, West Coast | 2 | 5 |
MELB | Collingwood, Richmond, Sydney, St Kilda, West Coast | 2 | 5 |
NM | Brisbane, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide | 2 | 3 |
PORT | Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Richmond | 5 | 1 |
RICH | Carlton, Collingwood, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide | 4 | 2 |
StK | Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Melbourne | 3 | 3 |
SYD | Carlton, Essendon, Geelong, GWS, Melbourne | 5 | 3 |
WCE | Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne | 6 | 2 |
WB | Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong | 3 | 2 |