ANY CLUB hoping that a tough fixture might trip up one of this year's premiership contenders is set to be sorely disappointed.
Four of the top five sides – first-placed Geelong, Collingwood (third), reigning premier West Coast (fourth) and Brisbane (fifth) – all face schedules that rank among the top five easiest fixtures in the run home, according to Champion Data.
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The Cats don't play another top-four side from now until the finals, with four games against teams in the bottom half of the eight, five against sides ranked ninth to 14th, and two against teams in the bottom four.
The cards have also fallen Geelong's way in the first half of the season, with their first 11 games rated the fourth-easiest fixture to date.
Port Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide are the only clubs to have enjoyed a softer start to their campaigns.
The Power have had the easiest first 11 games, according to Champion Data. Picture: AFL Photos
But back to the run home, where St Kilda, 12th on the ladder with a 5-6 record, has the easiest final 11 games.
The only time the Saints face a top-four side is when they take on the Cats in round 17, while they also take on the Lions, Richmond (sixth) and eighth-placed Adelaide.
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Hawthorn – 11th at 5-6 – has the toughest run home, including five games against top-four teams.
The Hawks take on the Eagles twice, along with meeting the Cats, Magpies and second-placed Greater Western Sydney in a horror stretch.
Ben McEvoy (right) and the Hawks have the AFL's toughest run to September. Picture: AFL Photos 
Port Adelaide's road to the finals is just as bumpy, with five games against sides in the top eight.
The Power are clinging to seventh spot with a 6-5 record, above crosstown rivals, the Crows, on percentage.
The Crows have the fifth-toughest run home, with all top-four sides on the horizon.
Current draw
Club | Difficulty | Rank |
West Coast | +3.1 | 1 |
Melbourne | +3.0 | 2 |
Sydney | +2.7 | 3 |
Gold Coast | +2.3 | 4 |
North Melbourne | +1.3 | 5 |
Fremantle | +1.0 | 6 |
Essendon | +0.9 | 7 |
St Kilda | +0.8 | 8 |
Hawthorn | +0.5 | 9 |
Collingwood | +0.0 | 10 |
Western Bulldogs | -0.3 | 11 |
Brisbane | -0.7 | 12 |
Richmond | -1.1 | 13 |
Carlton | -1.1 | 14 |
Geelong | -1.4 | 15 |
Adelaide | -2.1 | 16 |
GWS Giants | -4.3 | 17 |
Port Adelaide | -4.7 | 18 |
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Remaining fixture
| Remaining Games | Opponents (Current Ladder Pos) | ||||
Club | Difficulty | Rank | Top 4 | 5-8 | 9-14 | Bottom 4 |
Hawthorn | +5.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Port Adelaide | +4.9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Western Bulldogs | +4.5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
North Melbourne | +3.6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Adelaide | +2.1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Richmond | +2.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Essendon | +1.6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Gold Coast | +0.4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
Sydney | +0.1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Melbourne | -1.2 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
GWS Giants | -1.4 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Fremantle | -2.0 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Carlton | -2.3 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
West Coast | -2.5 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Brisbane | -2.9 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Collingwood | -3.5 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Geelong | -3.5 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
St Kilda | -4.7 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
