With the 2019 JLT Community Series confirmed and Round 1 against West Coast at the Gabba locked in, sights are now set on the release of the 2019 home and away season fixture.
Ahead of the full fixture released on Wednesday October 31, at 11am AEST, AFL Media take a look at each Club's wish list matches for the 2019 season.
What they'll want: More games on national free-to-air television, it's that simple. After a decade in the
The game the fans will be looking for: Hosting Collingwood on 'Easter Thursday'. Bringing the Magpies to the Gabba always ensures a bumper crowd and even more so with the return of former skipper Dayne Beams after his off-season departure. - Michael Whiting
What they'll want: The Crows will be keen to host a game during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round. They will also still like plenty of matches in the prime-time Thursday night and Friday night timeslots. Seven of the Crows' 22 games were in those spots in 2018. However, that was after reaching the Grand Final last year compared to 12th this year. A home Showdown on a Friday night in front of a free-to-air national audience would be a boost commercially.
The game the fans will be looking for: After a forgettable season, the Crows will be looking to finally put it to bed when they kick off their 2019 campaign at home against Hawthorn. It could also be the return of star midfielder Brad Crouch after he missed the entire 2018 season with a groin injury. - Lee Gaskin
What they'll want: Carlton's biggest fixture request has already been granted, with the Blues set to meet the Tigers in their annual Thursday night season opener. The club had been in negotiations with Essendon regarding a potential 'Good Friday Eve' blockbuster, though that looks unlikely. In its place, it's believed Carlton has requested a Friday night match, most likely in Round 4, against either of its traditional rivals in Collingwood or Essendon. The club's CEO, Cain Liddle, confirmed earlier in the year that the Blues will play six home games at Marvel Stadium and five at the MCG over the next five years.
The game the fans will be looking for: Carlton will be eagerly awaiting its
What they'll want: The Magpies asked to open their season with a Friday night game against Melbourne and were half-appeased: they landed their requested time slot but have been scheduled to face Geelong instead. However, they are certain to retain their Queen's Birthday blockbuster against the Demons and their Anzac Day clash with Essendon. Given their sensational rise up the ladder, their star quality and their exciting brand of football, the Pies will once again become prime-time darlings and their hope for more Friday night games will be sated. They have also asked for minimal five-day breaks, and where they are unavoidable they would like their opponents to have the same preparation time.
The game the fans will be looking for: After losing a nail-biting Grand final in dramatic circumstances against West Coast, the Magpie Army will be desperate to exact some measure of revenge against the Eagles. - Ben Collins
What they'll want: Plenty of Essendon's requests revolve around the club's three blockbuster games – Anzac Day against Collingwood, Dreamtime at the 'G against Richmond and its 'Country Game' against Geelong. But the short turnaround between Anzac Day next year and Easter meant that the Bombers had requested to play on Good Friday Eve to ensure a bigger break before the Collingwood clash. Essendon didn't ask to play on Good Friday but that could be the end result, most likely as the away team. Their strong end to the season, plus their exciting brand of football, has seen them ask for a better commercial fixture with as many Friday night and Saturday night games broadcast on free-to-air.
The game the fans will be looking for: The Bombers should rue their loss to Carlton last season – it was one of only two victories for the Blues – and it might have been the defeat that cost Essendon a finals spot. Carlton has beaten the Bombers in all of the three previous seasons so Essendon fans might want some payback. - Callum Twomey
What they'll want: The Dockers haven't been sighted on the Friday night stage for the past two years but have flagged an interest in hosting matches in the marquee timeslot.
The game fans will be looking for: The build-up to Round 1 against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium will be massive with boom recruit Jesse Hogan set to be unveiled alongside Rory Lobb, Travis Colyer and Reece Conca. Although the Eagles are due to host, the first Western Derby will be spicy with Andrew Gaff and Andrew Brayshaw set to cross paths again. - Travis King
What they'll want: After finally being granted its wish of nine home matches at GMHBA Stadium last year, hitting that magic number will again be Geelong's main fixture priority in 2019. The Cats will ask for their other two home games to be played at the MCG, rather than at Marvel Stadium. Geelong can lock in another Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn, which will fall in Round 5 next season, while it will again meet Essendon at the MCG in its annual 'Country Game'.
The game the fans will be looking for: Geelong will be desperate to exact some revenge on Melbourne in 2019. Having beaten the Dees by three points and two points throughout the season, the Cats were then unceremoniously dumped from the finals at their hands. - Riley Beveridge
What they'll want: In the midst of a rebuild and with another difficult season on the cards, the primary concern for the Suns is hosting big Melbourne clubs at Metricon Stadium. Gold Coast is particularly keen to get two such games during the July school holidays to maximise crowds. They'd also prefer home matches on Saturdays, particularly in the twilight timeslot and watch for this season's game in North Queensland to be played in the middle of the year to avoid the wet season.
The game the fans will be looking for: They'll be looking for two – against Richmond and Melbourne. Former co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May both left during the off-season seeking greener pastures in Victoria. - Michael Whiting
What they'll want: More
The game the fans will be looking for: The season opener sees Essendon travel to Spotless Stadium and GWS fans will get their first close-up look at former favourite Dylan Shiel in the red and black. - Adam Curley
What they'll want: Not
Game to look forward
What they'll want: The Queen's Birthday blockbuster against Collingwood and the Anzac Day Eve clash with Richmond are the Demons' big-ticket occasions, although the latter is an away game in 2019. There's no doubt they will expect more Friday night exposure than this year, when they had just one, against the Power in Adelaide. Melbourne's sole Friday night game at the MCG – excluding finals – since the 2012 season was against Sydney last year. The Dees are set to play two games in the Northern Territory
The game the fans will be looking for: The Anzac Day Eve match has surpassed Queen's Birthday,
What they'll want: The Roos are committed to turning their Good Friday clash into a successful annual event despite a disappointing crowd for this year's contest against St Kilda, after facing the Western Bulldogs in 2017. They have already announced a fourth match in Hobart for next year and are keen to continue promoting multiculturalism with the 'Harmony Game', started with the Dogs in June. There are no specific plans at this stage for fixture-related celebrations in accordance with North's 150th anniversary.
The game the fans will be looking for: North Melbourne is set to have a third Good Friday opponent in as many years – likely one of the bigger-drawing clubs – so the prospect of a 50,000-plus crowd should whet the appetite of Roos fans. - Marc McGowan
What they'll want: With its requests around the Shanghai trip already granted, Port's main priority is to secure a home Anzac Round fixture for a 16th consecutive season. The Power will take on new opponent St Kilda in China in early June. It's the third straight season the Power have played a premiership game in Shanghai, with the first two against Gold Coast. A Friday night Showdown in front of a national free-to-air television audience would be a win for the Power on a commercial front.
The game the fans will be looking for: Chad Wingard's move to Hawthorn was one of the biggest talking points during the trade period. The former Power fan favourite will be keen to get one over his old club. - Lee Gaskin
What they'll want: The Tigers aren't demanding anything extraordinary. They'd like a balance between marquee timeslots (Thursday/Friday nights) and family-friendly Sunday games, limited back-to-back travel and no home games at Marvel Stadium. They also want as many decent breaks between rounds as possible, although the club acknowledges it will have to deal with Anzac Day Eve falling on a Wednesday. The Tigers' big-ticket items – the season opener against Carlton, Dreamtime at the 'G against Essendon and Anzac Day Eve versus Melbourne – are priorities, and they've already secured the Round 1 clash with the Blues for Thursday, March 21.
The game the fans will be looking for: Whenever they play Collingwood. They'll be baying for blood after being unceremoniously dumped out of the finals by the Magpies and there will be no love lost when the teams meet again. -Jennifer Phelan
What they'll want: An early home game against a big Victorian club would help the Saints with their marketing. After a poor season, they know a lot of Sunday matches are coming but are hoping for those to be in the early time slot, which
The game the fans will be looking for: The Saints have performed well against finals regular Greater Western Sydney over the past two years and will back itself to do so again. Furthermore, they can show Josh Kelly, who could be the most in-demand player in the competition when he comes out of contract in 12 months, why he should consider moving to Moorabbin. - Dinny Navaratnam
What they'll want: The Swans went public last week with a request for more afternoon and twilight fixtures, which were a huge success on two occasions last season. Sydney-siders love to make an afternoon out of Swans games and the Moore Park precinct is heaving if the weather is on. Games against the big clubs like Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn will draw massive crowds, so fixtures against those teams at the SCG will be high on Sydney's wish list.
The game the fans will be looking for: The SCG Sydney derby. The Giants smashed the home side in last season's elimination final and Sydney fans will be waiting for the return of Toby Greene. - Adam Curley
What they'll want: The Eagles played the bulk of their home games on Sunday afternoons last season and hope for more prime-time exposure in 2019. West Coast had just one Friday night fixture this year, at the SCG, and only hosted one Thursday evening clash, but should feature more prominently in marquee free-to-air timeslots, including Saturday nights, at Optus Stadium after winning the flag. As usual, the Eagles will hope to play at least three games at the
The game fans will be looking for: The unfurling of West Coast's fourth flag in Round 2 will be a huge occasion for the blue and gold faithful, with expectations of a Grand Final rematch against Collingwood. - Travis King
What they'll want: After missing the finals for the past two seasons since their 2016 premiership triumph, the Bulldogs won't grace the marquee Friday night slot too often in 2019, but the exciting young team should get their fair share of Saturday night exposure. With another two home games scheduled in Ballarat, don't expect either of the clashes to be fixtured in the middle of winter or at the 3.20pm timeslot after this year's Round 19 clash against Port Adelaide ended in poor light due to inadequate lighting at the venue. Another Good Friday appearance and a clash with North Melbourne in annual Harmony Game is also on the club's wish list.
The game the fans will be looking for: With the promising performance in the Round 23 loss to heavyweight Richmond still fresh in their mind, the Bulldog faithful should be eagerly awaiting a Saturday night showdown with Sydney at Marvel Stadium in Round 1. - Ryan Davidson