Melbourne

Play twice: Collingwood, Richmond, Sydney, St Kilda and West Coast

Verdict: Melbourne are many pundits flag picks for 2019, but this draw will mean they’ll have to earn it the hard way. Collingwood, Richmond and West Coast would have to make up the top four premiership favourites.

North Melbourne

Play twice: Brisbane, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide

Verdict: Doesn’t look too easy for the Shinboners. Geelong and Hawthorn were two of the shakier looking top eight teams, along with Port Adelaide they might be on the decline, but there’s no gimmes among that lot.

Port Adelaide

Play twice: Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Richmond

Verdict: Port Adelaide’s draw doesn’t make up for their loss of talent in the trade season Did well to receive just the one top eight team, but it is Richmond and they’ll be tough to beat. Two Showdowns is great for neutrals though.

Richmond

Play twice: Carlton, Collingwood, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide,

Verdict: Not a bad place to begin as Richmond will look to return to the Grand Final. A double up against Carlton is a gift and a weakened Port is better to draw than North or Essendon who might be moving up.

St Kilda

Play twice: Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Melbourne

Verdict: Champion Data ranks St Kilda’s fixture the easiest for next year. Though Melbourne are a hell of a final’s team to play twice.

Sydney

Play twice: Carlton, Essendon, Geelong, GWS, Melbourne

Verdict: Not the draw Swans fans would have been hoping for. GWS and Melbourne will both be very tough to beat next year and Essendon could be too. Could look to exploit that Carlton repeat game though.

West Coast

Play twice: Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne

Verdict: A tough but fair outcome for the reigning premiers. The Pies twice is great for neutrals, will be huge amounts of feeling in both of those.

Western Bulldogs

Play twice: Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong

Verdict: The fixture gives the Western Bulldogs a good chance to rebound next year. The Dogs will be hoping for a lot of organic growth in 2019 due to missing out on trade targets but their young talent is up to match it with the likes of Brisbane, Fremantle and Geelong.