After losing the battle to host the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, the Crows have lobbied for a big slice of the Thursday night footy pie. The club's chances of hosting Friday night games slumped with its 2013 form, but CEO Steven Trigg has publicly spoken of his confidence that the Crows will indeed play as many as five Thursday/Friday-night games in both Adelaide and Melbourne. - Harry Thring
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions were more disappointed with their away fixtures last season than their home schedule, and have asked for more matches in Melbourne. In 2013 they played all over the country – Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Sydney, Launceston and Geelong – but only four times in Melbourne. The club's Fitzroy fans deserve more and the club is seeking to accommodate them. Saturday and Sunday afternoon games in 2013 proved to generally be fizzers with the punters, and the Lions appear locked in to predominantly Saturday night home games next season. - Michael Whiting
CARLTON
In passing their membership goal of 50,000 this year, the Blues were hoping it would help them secure more games at the MCG. It's expected that they will face arch rivals Essendon and Collingwood twice on the hallowed turf, while it's likely they will confront Richmond just once there, in round two, with the MCG being unavailable in round one given the earlier start to the season. Carlton is expected to host Port Adelaide in their season-opener at Etihad Stadium. And as has been the case in recent years, the Blues expect to travel interstate five times next season. - Ben Collins
COLLINGWOOD
The Pies entered the fixture process knowing they would likely be the guinea pigs for the AFL's renewed interest in equalisation. So they'll get return games against Carlton, Essendon and perhaps Richmond (which the Tigers have specifically requested) and the obligatory ANZ Stadium blockbuster against the Sydney Swans. Otherwise, expect Collingwood to feature in fewer of the prime-time slots as the League looks to share the wealth among as many clubs as it can. - Ashley Browne
ESSENDON
Although they won both games at Patersons Stadium last year, the Bombers will be keen to avoid a double trip to Perth next season. The club won't host the Anzac Day clash in 2014, but will be hoping to have one of their four MCG home games against Hawthorn. The previous two encounters between the old rivals has been played at Etihad Stadium in front of sold-out crowds, limiting attendances. It could perhaps be switched with Essendon's home game against Melbourne if the Bombers are drawn to host the Demons again in 2014. - Callum Twomey
FREMANTLE
The Dockers are set to play more matches in the primetime slots of Friday and Saturday nights following their outstanding 2013 campaign. They are likely to play two blockbuster matches against Hawthorn as well as two matches against several other finalists from 2013. The Dockers have asked to have the number of six-day breaks limited through the year as well as the timing of those six-day turnarounds managed. - Alex Malcolm
GOLD COAST SUNS
To compete with rival codes better in south-east Queensland, the SUNS would like to have a home fixture in round one of the season – now scheduled for mid-March. Super Rugby season is well underway at that point and the NRL starts at the same time, giving them the jump on both the SUNS and Lions in the race for precious publicity. Afternoon and twilight games still work best for the fledgling Club relying on a young demographic that needs time to travel to and from home games. - Michael Whiting
GEELONG
The Cats are expected to play just seven games at Simonds Stadium next season. That's because they were granted a home qualifying final against Fremantle at the venue this year. The remainder of their 2014 home matches will be played at the MCG and Etihad Stadium. Geelong is set to open next year's campaign against Adelaide at Simonds Stadium in a Thursday night clash in the second week of round one. The Cats are rumoured to be coming up against Paul Chapman for the first time in a Friday night blockbuster in round 15 against Essendon. Among the clubs they are set to play twice are Hawthorn, Fremantle and North Melbourne. Geelong is believed to have been handed six interstate trips - Adam McNicol
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
The Giants are ecstatic that they will have an opportunity to open their season at Skoda Stadium against the Sydney Swans. It is the first time the Swans will play at the venue and GWS is hopeful of its first sell-out. Lance Franklin's debut in a Swans uniform, coupled with Shane Mumford and (potentially) Jed Lamb's shifts to the Giants, means interest will be high. It's understood the club favours the Saturday twilight slot for its home fixtures to encourage families to visit their impressive new stadium. The Giants are frequent flyers, which is amplified by their three home matches in Canberra each year. But they are keen to avoid the sort of fixturing they faced in late 2013 – Fremantle in Perth in round 20 followed by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 21 - James Dampney
HAWTHORN
After overcoming last year's nightmare fixture to win the premiership, the Hawks will be confident of handling whatever is thrown at them once again. That said, a repeat of this year's opening seven rounds, which featured games against all seven 2012 finalists, would ideally be avoided. After the 2013 home game against West Coast at Etihad Stadium sparked an outcry from fans, Hawthorn is sure to have pushed for all of its Melbourne home games to be played at the MCG. And in a bid to build some extra buzz around Tasmanian home games, the club could play a twilight fixture at Aurora Stadium. - Mark Macgugan
MELBOURNE
Beggars can't be choosers, so it is not as if the Demons sent a long list of requests into AFL HQ. They remain hopeful of retaining their standalone Queen's Birthday home game against Collingwood and, as has been confirmed, will play the first game for premiership points in Alice Springs against Port Adelaide in round 11 and will host Fremantle in Darwin in round 16. Melbourne also hopes not to be drawn to play a home game at Etihad Stadium, a venue its supporters generally loathe. - Ashley Browne
NORTH MELBOURNE
Brad Scott's team had a difficult fixture last season, but after finishing 10th, can expect a more comfortable run this time. The new 'six-six-six' bracketing of teams means the Kangaroos will face return encounters against mostly middle-of-the-road opposition. From a commercial standpoint, North Melbourne has been keen to grow its presence on Friday nights and, given it plays an attractive brand of football and is widely tipped to rise in 2014, can mount a strong case to be handed at least as many games in the primetime fixture as last year's three. With finals football in mind, more games at the MCG is also a must. - Mark Macgugan
PORT ADELAIDE
Port scored a significant early victory for next season by winning the hosting rights to the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, but the Power want more blockbuster games to continue building their national profile. Their success last year and resultant boost in popularity should help them in that regard, and should secure at least one more game at the MCG. The club would also like to further develop their presence in the Northern Territory and will most likely get the chance to do so via the fixture. - Harry Thring
RICHMOND
The Tigers have ended their three-year deal to play one 'home' game in Cairns, all but ensuring they will lift their presence at the MCG from 13 home-and-away games in 2013 to 14 next season. Having lost two of its three games against Gold Coast at Cazaly Stadium, Richmond will play the Suns at Metricon Stadium in round one before hosting Carlton in the MCG's first game of the season in round two. By losing to the Blues in the first elimination final, the Tigers fell to seventh and into the middle pool of six for fixturing purposes in 2014. There will be no return match against Carlton, but the Tigers are expected to play Essendon twice, with the 'Dreamtime at the G' blockbuster set to continue. Richmond played four of its last five games at the MCG in 2013 which is a run home the club would love to replicate. - Nathan Schmook
ST KILDA
The Saints have already locked in their golden ticket with an assured Anzac Day game at Wellington's Westpac Stadium for the next five years. Last year, their opponent for the first match played for premiership points on international soil was the Sydney Swans, but it has been suggested the Brisbane Lions might be heading across the Tasman in 2014. The club is also believed to be keen on more games at the MCG after playing three there in 2013 (two as the home team) and wants to retain its Monday night game for the fifth year running. It has been mooted that the club would like to play Collingwood in Indigenous Round. The Saints were playing the Magpies at Victoria Park in the round four 1993 game where Nicky Winmar lifted his jumper at the end of the match and pointed to his skin in response to racist taunts. - Jennifer Phelan
SYDNEY SWANS
Having opened their season against GWS at ANZ Stadium the past two years, the Swans will head to Skoda Stadium for the first time to start 2014. They expect eight SCG games and three ANZ fixtures, including an early blockbuster, potentially in round two. That is due to the unavailability of the SCG, which is hosting two official Major League Baseball games in late March. The Swans traditionally request six games in Melbourne. Last year they had four – Hawthorn, Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium – plus a trip to Geelong. Avoiding back-to-back travel weeks and short breaks are priorities. As reigning premiers, the Swans were given four Friday night games in 2013 and also travelled to Hobart and Wellington to face North Melbourne and St Kilda respectively. - James Dampney
WEST COAST
The Eagles appear set for an easier draw on paper in 2014 due to their 13th placing this year. They could play two matches against a number of bottom six sides and Fremantle may be the only club from the top six they play twice. The Eagles requested the first derby of the year not be played too early, but instead come at least a month to six weeks into the season. Like their cross-town rivals, they will be hoping to contain the number of six-day breaks after weekends in which they travel. - Alex Malcolm
WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs played nine twilight games in 2013, and for obvious reasons, the club would prefer to have a few more prime time slots. The Dogs were absent from the Friday night fixture last season, and played just four night games for the year. The club is keen to host some more big games against the powerhouse Victorian clubs in 2014 to pull in big crowds, after playing Geelong, Hawthorn, Essendon and Carlton just once last year. Like all clubs, the Bulldogs don't want many six-day breaks. - Jacqui Reed
