ADELAIDE
Sydney Swans
The Swans' outstanding success since 2012 has been reflected in their dealings with the Crows. The Sydneysiders have won their past three encounters with Adelaide by a commanding average of 56 points. Josh Kennedy tends to shine in these clashes; he's averaged 29 possessions a game against the Crows since 2012.
2015 meeting: R18, SCG
Carlton
The Crows have triumphed in this fixture just once since 2010, with the Blues claiming four of the past five encounters. However the location of these games has been just as one-sided. Adelaide hasn’t hosted Carlton since 2010 and won't this year either, with their one match scheduled at the MCG. Coincidently the match at AAMI Stadium in 2010 produced the Blues' best win over the Crows in recent times (48 points).
2015 meeting: R10, MCG – Harry Thring
BRISBANE LIONS
Richmond
The Tigers' dominance has become almost comical for Lions fans over recent years. It doesn't matter where the teams are placed on the ladder, or what form they're in, Richmond has had it all over the boys from Brisbane for the past decade. The Tigers have won the past seven clashes and 11 of their past 13. The last time the Lions tasted success was Michael Voss' first season in charge in 2009, and they haven't got within 19 points in any match since. They must hate the sight of Dustin Martin, who since entering the AFL in 2010, has averaged 26 disposals – more than he does against any other team – and kicked 11 goals in his unbeaten run against the Lions.
2015 meetings: R3, Gabba
Sydney Swans
Once bitter rivals, this Queensland-NSW derby has been decidedly one-sided in recent years. While the Swans have continued to be near the pointy end of the ladder, they've feasted on the hapless Lions, winning the past seven matches, and often doing it in crushing fashion. Four of the past five victories have been in excess of 50 points.
2015 meetings: R14, Gabba
Fremantle
Another team the Lions have struggled against, not only have the Dockers won the past seven encounters, but they've barely given the Lions a sniff along the way (apart from a late Michael Walters goal in the opening round of 2011 to sink them by two points). Since Ross Lyon took over as coach in 2012, the Lions have been flat out kicking goals against Fremantle's suffocating defence, let alone being competitive. In the past four matches they've kicked a grand total of 20 goals, and never more than six in one match – ugly reading indeed.
2015 meetings: R13, Patersons Stadium – Michael Whiting
CARLTON
Hawthorn
The Blues have not managed to defeat the Hawks since round six, 2005, recording 10 consecutive losses. Brendan Fevola memorably hit the post at the MCG in 2009 as the Blues lost by four points to the defending premiers that season. The streak means it will be more than 10 years since Carlton has beaten Hawthorn when the two teams meet in round 17. Brad Sewell has often been good against the Blues, so his retirement might be the turning point.
2015 meeting: R17, Etihad Stadium
Geelong
It's hard to believe there was a theory not that long ago that Carlton's small forwards made life too difficult for the always dominant Cats. That was in 2009-10 when the Blues had two consecutive wins against Geelong and had Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett in the squad. It's not said any more, because the Cats have reeled off six in succession against Carlton although the biggest margin in the past five has been 16 points, with the average losing margin for those games being just 8.2 points. However the Blues' record against the Cats is not good at Etihad Stadium. The past 13 times the two teams have met at the stadium, Geelong has won.
2015 meeting: R8, Etihad Stadium
Collingwood
The once bitter rivalry has become a little slanted Collingwood's way in recent years, with the Magpies winning the past four encounters and eight of the past 10. Carlton has not beaten Collingwood since Mick Malthouse joined the club as coach in 2012, but it has huge motivation in round five when the coach breaks the all-time games coached record of Magpie legend Jock McHale. Despite the rivalry, the games have not been that exciting in recent seasons, with 15 points being the smallest margin in the past 20 clashes.
2015 meeting: R5, MCG; R19, MCG
Essendon
Just four games without a win – three losses and a draw – is not dramatic but when the opposition is Essendon it hurts. In two of the losses, Carlton players earned three Brownlow votes as the team went down.
2015 meeting: R3, MCG – Peter Ryan
New Blue Jones generating plenty of excitement
COLLINGWOOD
Gold Coast
Collingwood has fallen twice to the 'new kids on the block' in the past two years, with the Suns triumphing by seven and five points respectively in those meetings. Skipper Gary Ablett was the key to Gold Coast's breakthrough victory, against the Magpies in 2013 as he helped himself to 49 touches and two goals – good enough to bring in the three Brownlow votes. Even with Ablett suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in 2014, the young Suns showed pluck to pip the Magpies on home soil and continue their hold over their more experienced opponent.
2015 meeting(s): Round eight, Metricon Stadium
The Suns pulled off one of the upsets of the season last year against the Pies. Picture: AFL Media
Hawthorn
It's staggering to think Collingwood has not beaten Hawthorn since the 2011 preliminary final. But that's exactly the case - the Hawks have won their past seven games against the Magpies. Luke Breust propelled Hawthorn to a 29-point victory when the teams met in round 14 last year, with the sharpshooter booting four goals. The Hawks then ran all over an undermanned Collingwood (when its injury list reached chaotic proportions) in round 23, as Jordan Lewis led from the front to gather 34 disposals. When he was in the brown and gold, the feeling was that Lance Franklin had Collingwood's measure. But obviously it runs a little deeper than that. – Ben Guthrie
2015 meetings: Round 14, MCG
Pies out to improve their biggest weakness
ESSENDON
Hawthorn
Essendon's obvious bogey side, with fierce rivalry stemming back to the 1980s. The Bombers have lost their last five encounters with the Hawks by an average of 47 points and last tasted victory against them in round six, 2010. Ex-Hawk Buddy Franklin only played against them twice in that period but each time kicked a bag – five goals in round 13, 2010, and eight in round 18, 2013 – and Cyril Rioli has proved a handful, twice polling Brownlow votes in the last five games. Last year, the Hawks' winning margin was just four points after they withstood a second half comeback effort, with Shaun Burgoyne and Josh Gibson stnding up with Rioli and Matt Suckling prolific.
2015 meetings: R2, MCG; R13, MCG
Geelong
A "bogey side" case can be made for the Sydney Swans, who have won six of the seven last head-to-heads against the Bombers – and the most recent four – but the Cats' stranglehold stretches back to 2004. They've won 12 of 14 clashes since that season, with the Bombers claiming narrow wins in round 15, 2011 (by four points when Jake Melksham and Dyson Heppell were awarded three and two Brownlow votes respectively_, and round 18, 2005, by 13 points. They played once last year in a Friday night thriller at Etihad Stadium in late June, which the Cats claimed by nine points a week after losing to Gold Coast, with Mitch Duncan and Steven Motlop nailing two crucial goals each in the final term.
2015 meeting: R10, Etihad Stadium – Jennifer Phelan
FREMANTLE
Hawthorn
The Hawks are a major problem for Fremantle. All roads to that elusive premiership go through Hawthorn and the Dockers have found barricades up at nearly every turn. The Hawks have won six of the last seven encounters including the 2013 Grand Final. The exception was round 21 last year at Patersons Stadium – the last game Hawthorn lost for the year. Matthew Pavlich kicked five goals as Fremantle overran a Hawks side that was missing Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli.
2015 meetings: R15, Aurora Stadium
St Kilda
The Saints have had a stunning hold over the Dockers, winning 10 of the last 12 matches. The most surprising of those results have come in the last two years where the lowly Saints have destroyed the top-four Dockers by 58 and 71 points. The result in round 23 2013 was mitigated in some respects by the fact that the Dockers rested 10 players in the lead up to finals. But the 58-point loss in round 18 last year broke a streak of eight consecutive wins for the Dockers and rocked their season. Nick Riewoldt starred with 30 possessions and four goals for the Saints.
2015 meetings: R19, Etihad Stadium – Alex Malcolm
Should WA teams get an extra home game because of the travel factor?
GEELONG
Collingwood
The Magpies have bounced back strongly since their crushing 2011 Grand Final defeat at the hands of Geelong. Collingwood has won three of the past four games against the Cats, although Geelong got the chocolates, in an 11-point win, when the sides met in round three last year. These sides generally fight a fairly even battle and you can expect more of the same this season. Collingwood's midfield depth has worried Geelong in the past, but following the departures of a number of key men (namely Dayne Beams and Luke Ball), it will be interesting to see if that hold remains. Nonetheless, fans always turn up in big numbers to watch these two powerhouses strut their stuff.
2015 meeting: R6, MCG; R22, MCG
Fremantle
There's no question the Dockers have had the wood over Geelong in recent times. Geelong has fallen to the Dockers on four of the past six occasions and you need only look to the 2012 elimination final, when Fremantle jumped Geelong and clinched a second-round finals berth with a strong performance at the MCG. Better still, rewind to when the Dockers shocked their highly-fancied opponents on home soil to win the 2013 qualifying final at Simonds Stadium. That loss was a hard one to take for the Cats, particularly given the antics of chief antagonists Ryan Crowley and Hayden Ballantyne. Steve Johnson's 'non-handshake' in that fiery quarter final and Matthew Scarlett's infamous decking of Ballantyne, in 2012, have only added to the intense rivalry between these two teams. This match-up has quickly become one of the most intriguing battles to watch in the game.
2015 meetings: R2, Simonds Stadium – Ben Guthrie
Ryan Crowley and Steve Johnson always go at it when the Cats and Dockers clash. Picutre: AFL Media
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Adelaide
Let's be honest, most sides have dined out on the Giants in their formative years, but the Crows have feasted on the AFL's youngest club more than most. Adelaide has whipped the new boys in all five meetings - to the tune of an average 87 points per game. There have been plenty of character-building losses for the Sydney-based outfit since its inception, but a 135-point thrashing at the hands of the Crows at home in round seven, 2013 would be right up there. It was their second-heaviest defeat and a day out for Tom Lynch, who booted 10 goals. GWS obviously haven't forgotten – they've held him to only one major in the two meetings since.
2015 meeting R8, Spotless Stadium
West Coast
The Eagles might only have been a middling side in the past few years, but they have routinely belted GWS. West Coast has thumped the Giants by a combined 211 points in the past two clashes. Oddly, the closest the young club has come was an 81-point defeat in 2012 – its debut year and the season West Coast finished fifth on the ladder. Chief destroyer has been big man Josh Kennedy, who has booted 18 goals, including 11 straight in last year's mauling in Perth.
2015 meeting: R5, Patersons Stadium
Fremantle
Patersons Stadium has been a nightmare venue for the Giants, who have lost all three games at the ground against Freo by an average margin of 95 points. Finding a path through the 'Purple Haze' and Ross Lyon's defensive bottleneck on the narrow confines of Patersons has been mission impossible for the visitors, who have never kicked 10 goals in a game against the Dockers. Relatively speaking, last year's 76-point loss was a step in the right direction.
2015 meeting: R18, Patersons Stadium – Travis King
Who is the Giants' most important player?
GOLD COAST
Adelaide
The Crows have not given the Suns a look-in since they entered the competition in 2011, winning all six matches by an average margin of 56 points. Even last season when Gold Coast visited Adelaide Oval on the back of a five-game winning streak, the then struggling Crows put them to the sword, running out easy 32-point winners. Prolific midfielder Scott Thompson must lick his lips when he sees the Suns on the fixture. Thompson averages a career-best 33 disposals against Gold Coast, including his incredible 51-touch performance against it in 2011.
2015 meeting: R6, Metricon Stadium; R16, Adelaide Oval
Hawthorn
Another team the Suns have failed to defeat in their short history, this one is a little less surprising. The Hawks have won two flags, been runners-up and made a preliminary final in the four years Gold Coast has been in the AFL, and they've made light work of their young opponents, winning all six matches by an average of 54 points. The Suns aren't the only team that has had trouble containing the Hawthorn juggernaut in recent years, but as their list matures, they will hope to narrow the gap.
2015 meeting: R9, Aurora Stadium – Michael Whiting
Is 'Gaz' still Gold Coast's most important player?
HAWTHORN
Geelong
The hearse was delivered for the Curse (copyright: D. Cometti) in the 2013 preliminary final, and the Hawks beat the Cats in two of three matches last year, but Geelong will always fancy itself to beat Hawthorn no matter the circumstances and the Hawks know this. At full strength, the Cats have the gameplan to unsettle the Hawks, and the games themselves always have twists and turns, irrespective of who wins. The Hawks and Cats will open their season against each other on Easter Monday and when you look at all the games set for decision on opening weekend, the AFL has saved the best game until last.
2015 meetings: R1, MCG; R15, MCG
North Melbourne
Hawthorn has won four of last five against the Kangaroos, but it's more complicated than that. Hawthorn's two wins over North in 2013 were really tight, while the Kangaroos were convincing winners at Etihad Stadium on a Friday night last year in the only meeting between the two clubs. North's pace on the hard indoor deck worried the Hawks all night and it was probably the one match for the year when the premiers were made to look really ordinary. As the game slipped away in the third term, the Hawks became very undisciplined and gave away a raft of free kicks and 50-metre penalties. The low point of it all was Brian Lake's 'choker hold' on Drew Petrie that earned him the wrath of his teammates and which led to a four-match suspension.
2015 meeting: R5, Etihad Stadium – Ashley Browne
MELBOURNE
St Kilda
It's been all heartache for the Demons since they defeated St Kilda in the 2006 elimination final. No finals appearances, no wins in either round one or two of any season since, seven coaches, not much joy and no wins against the Saints. The losing streak is now at 10, the Saints' fifth-best winning streak against one club, with just four more wins required to break the club's record. Thankfully Melbourne does not play the Saints until round 11 so the Dees may be in with a chance at that stage of the season.
2015 meeting: R11, Etihad Stadium
North Melbourne
Thirteen losses on the trot against a team that had to rebuild with fewer advantages than Melbourne has received. The Kangaroos are rebounding from a preliminary final loss while the Demons have trundled along the bottom since they defeated North Melbourne in round 20, 2006. Their record against the Kangaroos is better at the MCG so they can live in hope that this year the drought will be broken.
2015 meeting: R19, MCG
New diet has diabetic Demon jumping
West Coast
Seven losses in succession by Melbourne, losing the past six by an average of 77 points, does not make good reading. Jack Darling has played in all six wins, kicking 18 goals and does not yet know what it is like to lose to Melbourne. Jeremy Howe is the only Demon to earn a Brownlow vote in those six games.
2015 meeting: R14, TIO
Fremantle
Melbourne has not kicked more than six goals in any of its past four losses to Fremantle. It's a dismal tale considering the Demons defeated Fremantle by 89 points in round 13, 2011 and appeared in better shape than the Dockers. How things change.
2015 meeting: R5, MCG – Peter Ryan
Drew Petrie and Brian Lake tangled during last year's encounter. Picture: AFL Media
NORTH MELBOURNE
Sydney Swans: If anyone needed proof the Swans were off the boil at the start of last season, look no further than their round-four loss to North. Fair enough, they also suffered the ignominy of their first-ever loss to cross-town rivals GWS in round one, but the defeat to the Roos was their first in 10 matches. The Kangas have an abysmal record against Paul Roos/John Longmire's men, winning just two of the past 13 (with one draw). Bad luck for them then that they met their bogey side in last season's 71-point preliminary final reality check.
2015 meeting Round 11, Etihad Stadium
Adelaide: On the face of it, North's record against Adelaide isn't that bad. The Roos won in Hobart in round 22 last year, albeit only by a hard-fought seven points, and two of their three losses before that were by single-figure margins. But dig a little deeper and there's reason for Roos fans to be nervous before the teams clash in round one. Not only has Brad Scott never led his side to victory in the opening round of the season in five years as North's coach, but the Roos have lost their past six matches on the road against the Crows, stretching way back to round 21, 2003.
2015 meeting Round one, Adelaide Oval
West Coast: Until last season's drought-breaking 38-point win, North had gone five-straight games without tasting victory over the Eagles. Rubbing salt into the wound, the defeats ranged from the humiliating to the agonising. Few supporters from either side would forget the 96-point elimination demolition in 2012, or Nic Naitanui's famous screamer and after-the-siren goal the next season. It's fair to say West Coast ruckmen have a habit of lifting against the Roos. Dean Cox turned in one of the standout performances of his illustrious career with a 15-mark, three-goal display in 2012, which foiled Brad Scott's men in Hobart. North fans will be relieved the big man has retired ahead of a rematch at the venue next season.
2015 meeting R10, Blundstone Arena. – Travis King
PORT ADELAIDE
Essendon The Power's struggle from 2008-2013 means their record against most clubs is far from brilliant. Powerhouses Geelong, Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans all bullied Port during the club's low point. Although Essendon hasn't matched the big three's recent success, it hass won its last five games against the Power – including a two-point win at Adelaide Oval last year.
2015 meeting: R17, Etihad Stadium
North Melbourne
The Kangaroos' past two wins over Port made it seven of the last nine encounters. They ended the Power's unbeaten start to the 2013 season and were the only side to stop them last year until round nine. Port's veteran midfielder Kane Cornes has lead the game for disposals in four of the past nine outings. North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow missed last year's game through injury, but in the two before that he collected 26 and 28 touches.
2015 meeting: R3, Etihad Stadium – Harry Thring
RICHMOND
Geelong
The Tigers have lost the last 10– five by more than 60 points and two by more than 100 – with the last win in round nine, 2006. Since 1990, the Tigers have enjoyed just seven wins from 36 attempts, and they haven't beaten them at the MCG since 1999. Last year in early May, a paltry crowd by these clubs' standards turned out to watch the Cats record their 10th straight win over them on a wet and cold Melbourne afternoon – the Tigers didn't kick a goal until the 22-minute mark of the second quarter. After starting to play on more in the second half they got within six points in the last quarter before going down by five, with Harry Taylor blanketing Ty Vickery and standing up in the tight final term.
2015 meeting: R5, MCG
Collingwood
The Tigers and Magpies might live in close proximity in Melbourne's sporting precinct but there's been nothing close about their scorelines against each other in recent years. The Pies have prevailed the last seven times, which means Damien Hardwick, who started in 2010, has not coached a win against them and Nathan Buckley has not suffered a loss at the helm. Three of the seven losses recorded since round three, 2008, have been by more than 70 points; the heaviest by 93 points in round 20, 2009 when the Pies assembled a multi-pronged attack with six multiple goal kickers and 13 in total, and Heath Shaw, Dayne Beams and Alan Didak – none of whom are at the club anymore – won the Brownlow votes. This season, the Tigers will get two chances to narrow the gap on the Pies' win-loss ledger for the first time since 2007.
2015 meetings: R7, MCG; R21, MCG. – Jennifer Phelan
Ask the coach: Damien Hardwick
ST KILDA
Collingwood
The Saints have lost seven of their past eight meetings with the Magpies, tying the 2010 Grand Final and losing the replay. Their last win was in round three, 2010, led by Jason Gram, Nick Dal Santo and Brendon Goddard, who have all since departed. Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan have been the chief tormentors in the Magpies' midfield, earning six and seven Brownlow votes respectively through their team's winning run. Key forward Travis Cloke has booted a total of nine goals in the past two meetings.
2015 meeting: R3, MCG
Richmond
St Kilda drew with the Tigers in round two, 2011, but it has been a winless run since, losing five matches by an average margin of 31 points. Star forward Jack Riewoldt has booted bags of eight, seven and six goals in that run, and across his career he has booted 41 goals against the Saints – the most of any team. Stopping the enigmatic forward is clearly the key if St Kilda is to end its losing run against the Tigers.
2015 meeting: R16, Etihad Stadium
Geelong
It was not so long ago the Saints and Cats were fierce rivals, developing their lists alongside each other and meeting in September three times between 2008-10, including the 2009 Grand Final. St Kilda won the qualifying final clash in 2010, but it has been winless against the Cats since, losing five straight matches. It is the scale of recent losses that makes Geelong a feared opponent for the Saints, losing by 101 and 96 points in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
2015 meeting: R21, Etihad Stadium – Nathan Schmook
Young Saint bulking up for new role
SYDNEY SWANS
Collingwood
The Swans' annual clash against Collingwood at ANZ Stadium has been a marquee match for the club, but since 2006 it has netted just one win in 10 meetings. The Swans will be hoping for a change of fortune this year with the fixture moved to the SCG, which has always held more of an advantage for them. Overall, the Swans have managed just two wins in their past 13 clashes against the Magpies, losing 11 straight between 2006-12. Scott Pendlebury has snagged three Brownlow votes in each of the Magpies' past two wins.
2015 meeting: R20, SCG
Hawthorn
The Swans and Hawks have been jockeying at the top of the table for the past three years, and they're 1-1 in Grand Finals. In all meetings since 2013, however, the Hawks have a significant advantage, winning fix of the past six. The Swans are not alone in battling against the reigning premiers, but the lopsided win-loss tally between two evenly matched teams makes their case noteworthy. It will be intriguing to see how John Longmire's men respond in 2015 after their 63-point Grand Final loss.
2015 meetings: R8, MCG; R16, ANZ Stadium
Richmond
A bogey team to a lesser extent, Richmond has upset the Swans in three of the team's past five clashes, including last year's thrilling three-point win at ANZ Stadium, which locked in a finals berth for the Tigers. There are a number of Tigers who match up well on their Swans opponents, most notably defender Alex Rance, who always battles hard in his entertaining duels with Lance Franklin.
2015 meeting: R13, SCG – Nathan Schmook
The Tigers' win over the Swans in round 23 sealed their position in the finals. Picture: AFL Media
WEST COAST
Sydney Swans: Long gone are the glory days of 2005-07 when the two sides played six consecutive matches that were decided by less than a kick, four of which came in September, including two Grand Finals. But the Swans have dominated the last eight matches with an averaging winning margin of nearly 33 points. The last four victories for the Swans have all come in Perth.
2015 meeting: R17, Patersons Stadium
Fremantle: After the dominance of the early days when the Eagles won the first nine derbies the Dockers have a stranglehold on the WA rivalry. Fremantle has won the last five derbies and 11 of the last 14 dating back to mid-2007. The two matches last year were closer than the previous three though. The Eagles' inaccurate kicking cost them in round seven when they kicked 7.12 to the Dockers 11.7. In round 15 a similar story unfolded with Eagles kicking poorly early before finishing strongly only to fall seven points short.
2015 meetings: R3, Patersons Stadium; R20, Patersons Stadium
Geelong: West Coast has not come close to beating Geelong away from home since the year the Eagles won the premiership in 2006. Very few teams have beaten the Cats in Geelong during that time and the Eagles were belted by 75 and 66 points in the last two matches at Simonds Stadium. But the Eagles have also struggled to beat the Cats in Perth in recent times. They have only won twice in the last 11 encounters at all venues. Those two wins both came at Patersons Stadium by eight and five points in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
2015 meetings: R9, Patersons Stadium – Alex Malcolm
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Hawthorn: Clashes against the reigning premier haven't been memorable for the rebuliding Dogs over the last few seasons. The Hawks have won the past six games between the teams, with three of those being in excess of 10 goals. Jarryd Roughead has been a constant nemesis, kicking 11 goals in the past three encounters.
2015 meeting: R3, Aurora Stadium
Young Dog still an Ayce in the pack, says Darcy
Sydney Swans: Like the Hawks, the Bulldogs have lost their past six games against Swans. The 2012 season saw the most carnage, with the premiers of that year putting the Dogs to the sword with wins of 92 and 72 points.
2015 meeting: R5, SCG
Brisbane Lions: While the Dogs have struggled against the powerhouses of the competition, they've also had problems against fellow struggler Brisbane. The Lions have won four of the past five clashes, but only scraped over the line in last two encounters by eight and seven points respectively.
2015 meetings: R12, Etihad Stadium; R23, Gabba – Ryan Davidson
