AFL Releases Official 2027 Season Fixture List
The league confirms the schedule for 2027, handing the Brisbane Lions the toughest draw in the competition.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Football
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The Australian Football League has officially released its 2027 season fixture list. The Brisbane Lions, who are coming off a three-peat championship performance, have been assigned the hardest schedule in the league.
Why it matters
The fixture list determines the strength of schedule for each club, which is a critical factor for teams aiming to maintain championship form throughout the season. The Lions face several premiership contenders twice, significantly raising the difficulty of their title defence.
The Brisbane Lions face 8 games against top-quality opposition, as the league assigns specific opponents to be played twice throughout the season. The difficulty of this draw is measured against the baseline of the other 17 clubs.
The players
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions are a professional Australian rules football club that enters the 2027 season following a three-peat championship performance.
Collingwood
Collingwood is a major Australian rules football club that is expected to reach the finals in 2027.
Geelong
Geelong is a prominent football club widely considered to be a premiership contender for the upcoming season.
Sydney
The Sydney Swans are a professional club viewed by analysts as a serious premiership contender for 2027.
Fremantle
Fremantle is an Australian rules football club currently regarded as a premiership contender for the 2027 campaign.
The details
The league organises the competition by assigning specific opponents for each team to play twice, creating varying levels of difficulty across the ladder. For 2027, Brisbane is scheduled to play Collingwood, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Geelong, Sydney, and St Kilda on two separate occasions.
Timeline
The 2027 AFL season matches occur throughout 2027.
Season Trajectory
This fixture release directly shapes the 2027 premiership race by testing the reigning champions with an arduous path to the finals. The inclusion of multiple title contenders in their twice-played opponent list significantly alters the club's defensive strategy for the year.
The Brisbane Lions must navigate eight high-intensity games against top-tier rivals to maintain their standing on the ladder. Fans and analysts should note that this specific schedule adjustment creates a narrower margin for error regarding the club's playoff seeding compared to previous years.
The takeaway
The league's decision to hand the champions the most difficult draw highlights the intense parity within the modern competition. Clubs will need to manage player fatigue and depth carefully as they navigate these marquee matchups throughout the 2027 season.
Further reading
For more information on the upcoming season, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sporting News.
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