Adam Goodes and Josh Kennedy during the 2012 AFL Grand Final.

THE SYDNEY Swans have been handed a dream start to their premiership defence, with John Longmire's men to open their 2013 campaign with games against Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast.

The Giants are the home side in the first of those matches, which is a Saturday night clash at ANZ Stadium on March 30.

That means the Swans will unfurl the 2012 premiership flag prior to their Saturday afternoon game against the Suns in round two.

To download a pdf version of the 2013 fixture, click here.

St Kilda has also been given a soft opening to next season, as the Saints play Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on a Saturday night in round one and Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval in a Saturday twilight game in round three.

The game in Canberra will be the first AFL match played under lights in the nation's capital.

But Hawthorn faces a much tougher start. The Hawks' first seven games are against teams that finished in the top eight in 2012.

However, last year's Grand Finalist plays Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Melbourne in rounds eight, nine and 10.

Next year's fixture has been put together using a new formula that attempts to hand the lowly clubs an easier run than those who finished near the top of the ladder this season.

Carlton is sure to be delighted with what the formula has produced.

The Blues, who were premiership favourites three rounds into the 2012 season, only play one finalist - Collingwood - twice in 2013. (Funnily enough, the Blues beat the Magpies twice this season).

"Every year the average is that three clubs come into the eight and three go out … and I think in seven of the last nine years someone's gone from outside the eight to the top four," explained Simon Lethlean, the AFL's general manager of broadcasting, scheduling and legal affairs.

"So it's very hard to predict. But I think we've looked at it as transparently as we ever have about who's playing who twice.

"We've tried to achieve that as best we can, while still trying to achieve the big match-ups, the big crowds and all our contractual obligations.

"I think it's the best hybrid model of fairness and commerciality and everything else that I've done in my four or five years."

In other fixture news:
  • Melbourne will play Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney at the MCG in the first seven rounds. The Demons play the Suns and Giants twice, and also have two games against the Western Bulldogs.
  • North Melbourne's two games at Blundstone Arena in Hobart are both in the opening six rounds. The Kangaroos play the Sydney Swans in Tasmania in round three and Port Adelaide in round six. Both games will be played on Saturday afternoons.
  • Both the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne will host games in Darwin. The Dogs play Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium in round 10, while the Demons play the Brisbane Lions in round 17.
  • For the second year in succession Richmond will play Gold Coast and GWS only once. In fact, Richmond, who finished 12th this year, plays only one of the bottom four teams - the Western Bulldogs - twice in 2013.
  • Geelong will host three Saturday night games at the redeveloped Simonds Stadium. The biggest of those is a clash between the Cats and St Kilda in round 18.
  • Every club has been fixtured to play at least one game at the MCG.