The AFL fixture is like a lottery. Here are the biggest winners (and losers)

October 29, 2026 — 4:37pm

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The new fixture arrived and the player who has played more games than anyone else looked it up and down. “We’re playing where? That must be a mistake, it says here that we’re playing in Ballarat and Darwin.”

OK, I can’t be sure Scott Pendlebury said that, but he might have. If Pendlebury was to join his new Suns teammates on the field for every game next year (long odds for a bloke who’ll be 39 by round one), he will play at more venues (13) in his first year at the Gold Coast than he did in 20 years at Collingwood (11).

Pendlebury could this season play home-and-away games in Geelong, Ballarat, Darwin, Hobart and the Barossa for his first time ever. He is not unique among AFL players in not having played in the Barossa, though few other players also have a wine in their name. If that is not confronting enough for him, in 2027 the Suns only play at the MCG – Pendlebury’s home away from home where he has played more games than any other player – once.

Next year’s riddle, sorry fixture, is a collector’s item for poindexters. It is the last attempt at managing 18 clubs playing 23 games. So, try as they might – and they might have tried – to even things out, things will get wonkier once Tasmania comes in.

This year’s riddle has ventured forth into Sunday night games – a timeslot that has not previously been much loved but is appealing for allowing rare, late, convivial starts in Adelaide and WA. And if you are into bingeing footy, not having overlapping games on Sundays is welcome even if it means the first game starts at 12.30, or just after the last crumbs of your smashed avocado have........

© The Age