HAWTHORN and Collingwood will have to survive nightmare starts to the season in their bid to return to the Grand Final in 2020, with the two Victorian giants dealt the most difficult openings to the new campaign.

According to analysis from Champion Data, the Hawks and the Pies face the toughest first six weeks of any side in the competition and will have to get through an early onslaught in order to re-establish themselves as finals contenders once again.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

Hawthorn will play four of last year's top-five sides throughout its first six games, while Collingwood is set to do battle against half of last year's top-eight in its first six matches.

It's another blow for the Hawks, who were named to have the second most difficult draw overall on Thursday when the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Fixture was officially released by the League.

West Coast was announced to have the toughest fixture overall, while its local rivals Fremantle was named to have the easiest draw.

Essendon's task of returning to the finals once again next season will also be difficult, with the Bombers drawn to have the fourth hardest draw overall and the fourth most difficult finish to the campaign.

The Western Bulldogs will hope to have its own September position assured heading into the final month of the year, with Luke Beveridge's outfit assessed to have the most difficult end to the campaign.

WE RANK YOUR FIXTURE Pros, cons, circle it, who got a raw deal?

The Dogs won't have to leave Victoria throughout their last four games, but face difficult trips to GMHBA Stadium and to Mars Stadium in Ballarat among fixtures against Geelong, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and West Coast.

FIXTURE DIFFICULTY
ClubOverall RankR1-R6 RankR7-R12 RankR13-R18 RankR19-R23 Rank
West Coast181357
Hawthorn2116210
Gold Coast374169
Essendon4101474
GWS5181063
Carlton6671212
Richmond7132911
North Melbourne8111318
Geelong9166413
St Kilda1049186
Collingwood11212117
Western Bulldogs12318151
Brisbane13511815
Port Adelaide141215135
Adelaide15917112
Melbourne16145178
Sydney171531016
Fremantle181781414

Greater Western Sydney is set to clock up the most frequent flyer points, with the Giants set for 13 interstate trips throughout the season.

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On the other hand, Collingwood, Richmond and St Kilda have been handed 14 games each at their 'home' venue – the most of any teams in the competition.

VENUE/TRAVEL
 Local StateInterstate 
ClubHome
Venue
All
Venues
Interstate
Opponent
All
Matches
v Home
Opponent
NeutralMCG
West Coast12121010913
Hawthorn81339548
Gold Coast1011911832
Essendon91656607
GWS897131033
Carlton101745507
Richmond1416566014
North Melbourne91329453
Geelong91656605
St Kilda141646421
Collingwood1417555014
Western Bulldogs121765412
Brisbane11121010822
Port Adelaide12121010822
Adelaide12121010822
Melbourne1315575213
Sydney111210101003
Fremantle12121010911

Essendon is the new king of Thursday night football with four blockbuster clashes, while Richmond and Geelong each have six primetime Friday night fixtures.

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Greater Western Sydney will feature in the most Saturday games with 16, while North Melbourne has the most matches in the Sunday afternoon timeslot with 12.

DAY OF WEEK
ClubThuFriSatSunMonTueWed
West Coast1497000
Hawthorn23105100
Gold Coast00147000
Essendon42114000
GWS02163000
Carlton20109000
Richmond2676000
North Melbourne01812000
Geelong06104100
St Kilda011010000
Collingwood3575100
Western Bulldogs05124000
Brisbane22143000
Port Adelaide02136000
Adelaide12117000
Melbourne03710100
Sydney12126000
Fremantle001110000

Essendon, Carlton, Richmond, St Kilda, Collingwood, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne are the unlucky sides forced to endure at least one five-day break at some stage throughout the season.

ENTERTAINMENT SELLS Lions, Dogs, big Vic clubs dominate primetime