HAWTHORN and Brisbane capitalised on an easier fixture in the home and away season, while the Western Bulldogs made the wildcard despite a brutal run.

After making a preliminary final last year, the Hawks' fixture for the season was anticipated to be the eighth hardest.

However, it ended up being the equal 14th most difficult based on their double-up matches in 2026.

The Hawks had two matches against each of Essendon (18th), Gold Coast (13th) and Greater Western Sydney (12th), while they played no top-six team twice.

Brisbane, which finished third, also had a favourable run.

Coming off back-to-back flags, the Lions still had double-up games against the Bombers and, because of the QClash, the Suns.

Interestingly, the two easiest sets of double-ups belonged to North Melbourne and St Kilda, who missed their chance and failed to make the top 10.

The toughest fixture of the home and away season – and by some way – belonged to the Bulldogs, who will face Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night in a wildcard clash.

Remarkably, all six of the Bulldogs' double ups were against teams that made the top 10.

Carlton (10th), Melbourne (seventh), Adelaide (sixth), Hawthorn (fourth), Sydney (second) and Fremantle (first) were the teams the Dogs faced twice.

The Dogs have also been without young star Sam Darcy for most of the season and have had numerous other injury concerns, including Tim English and Bailey Dale, in a tough season.

After a relatively soft start to the season, Gold Coast finished the campaign with the second hardest set of double-ups.

The Demons, Geelong (fifth), the Hawks and Brisbane (third) were among the teams they faced twice.

Collingwood and Geelong had the next hardest double-ups, followed by Carlton.

* The expected degree of difficulty was calculated by adding the 2025 finishing positions of the teams a club plays twice. A low total score means a club has a tougher fixture; a high total score means an easier fixture.

* The actual degree of difficulty was calculated by adding the 2026 ladder positions of the teams a club played twice. A low total score means a club has a tougher fixture; a high total score means an easier fixture.