The 2018 AFL home and away fixture has been received with mixed reviews.

Some love the fact that the Hawks don’t travel for an away game until Round 9 at the Gabba. Others are miffed at the omission of any Hawthorn games in South Australia. 

With so many different wants and needs from a vast array of fans, it’s impossible to please everyone.

And, of course, it’s not just the fans that are affected by the fixture. Each player would also have his own preferences of where and when and who they play.

It got us thinking; which clubs do each of our players hold a strong record against? At which venues do they traditionally perform well? What, judging on past performances, would be their ideal fixture?

We looked closely at each player on our list (who has played at least 50 games) to come up with some answers…

Jarryd Roughead

Career average (per match): 14.6 disposals, 2.1 goals 

Best opponent (to play against)? Carlton – averages 16.2 disposals, 3.2 goals. Kicked eight goals against them in Round 6, 2009. 

Best venue (to play at)? UTAS Stadium – averages 14.4 disposals, 2.54 goals. Kicked eight goals at the venue in Round 12, 2014 v West Coast.

Ideal fixture: Hawthorn vs Carlton, Saturday afternoon*, UTAS Stadium.

*Each time slot is based on best past performance against specified club

Tom Mitchell

Career average (per match): 27.8 disposals, 4.1 marks, 6 tackles 

Best opponent? Collingwood – averages 33 disposals, 3 marks, 7.1 tackles. Collected 50 disposals in Round 9, 2017.

Best venue? MCG – averages 30.9 disposals, 4.4 marks, 6.3 tackles. Collected 43 touches and kicked two goals at the venue in Round 17 2017 v Geelong. 

Ideal fixture: Collingwood, Saturday night, MCG.

Ben McEvoy 

Career average (per match): 20.5 hit outs, 11.5 disposals, 3 tackles

Best opponent? Port Adelaide – averages 25.1 hit outs, 11 disposals, 2.4 tackles. Managed 40 hit outs against the Power in Round 16 2011.

Best venue? MCG – averages 22.7 hit outs, 11.4 disposals, 3.2 tackles. Managed 53 hit outs in Round 7 2017 v Melbourne. 

Ideal fixture: Port Adelaide, Sunday afternoon, MCG

Taylor Duryea

Career average (per match): 15.7 disposals, 5.3 marks, 2.5 rebound 50s 

Best opponent? Adelaide – averages 16.7 disposals, 6 marks, 2.8 rebound 50s. 

Best venue? Adelaide Oval – averages 18.4 disposals, 7.1 marks, 4 rebound 50s. 

Ideal fixture: Adelaide, Thursday night, Adelaide Oval

Shaun Burgoyne 

Career average (per match): 18.2 disposals, 3.5 marks, 3.8 tackles 

Best opponent? Sydney – averages 19.3 disposals, 3.1 marks, 4.3 tackles. Laid 11 tackles and collected 26 disposals in Round 17 2016. 

Best venue? MCG – averages 19.1 disposals, 3.6 marks, 4 tackles.

Ideal fixture: Sydney, Thursday night, MCG

Jaeger O’Meara

Career average (per match): 21.5 disposals, 3.7 marks, 5.5 tackles 

Best opponent? Western Bulldogs – averages 22.5 disposals, 2.8 marks, 7.5 tackles. Collected 25 disposals and laid 11 tackles in Round 23, 2017. 

Best venue? Etihad Stadium – averages 24.5 disposals, 3.6 marks, 6 tackles

Ideal fixture: Western Bulldogs, Friday night, Etihad Stadium.

Brendan Whitecross

Career average (per match): 16.1 disposals, 5.8 marks 

Best opponent? Essendon – averages 18 disposals, 7.4 marks. Collected 29 disposals and took 15 marks in Round 18, 2012. 

Best venue? Etihad Stadium – averages 18 disposals, 8.2 marks

Ideal fixture: Essendon, Friday night, Etihad Stadium

James Frawley

Career average (per match): 14.7 disposals, 3 rebound 50s 

Best opponent? Geelong – averages 17 disposals, 3.6 rebound 50s. 

Best venue? Kardinia Park – averages 16.2 disposals, 4.4 rebound 50s.

Ideal fixture: Geelong, Saturday afternoon, Kardinia Park

Grant Birchall 

Career average (per match): 22.1 disposals, 5.8 marks, 2.7 rebound 50s 

Best opponent? St Kilda – averages 23.3, 5.9 marks, 1.8 rebound 50s.

Best venue? UTAS Stadium – averages 23.4 disposals, 5.7 marks, 2.6 rebound 50s

Ideal fixture: St Kilda, Saturday afternoon, UTAS Stadium

Isaac Smith

Career average (per match): 21.2 disposals, 5.5 marks, 3 tackles 

Best opponent? Western Bulldogs – averages 23.7 disposals, 5.7 marks, 3.1 tackles

Best venue? Etihad Stadium – averages 21.2 disposals, 5.9 marks, 2.3 tackles

Ideal fixture: Western Bulldogs, Saturday afternoon, Etihad Stadium

Jonathon Ceglar 

Career average (per match): 20 hit outs, 10.9 disposals 

Best opponent? GWS – averages 26.3 hit ots, 12.7 disposals

Best venue? UTAS Stadium – averages 22.4 hit outs, 11.6 disposals 

Ideal fixture: GWS, Saturday twilight, UTAS Stadium

Jack Gunston 

Career average (per match): 1.9 goals, 15.4 disposals, 5.7 marks

Best opponent? Carlton – 2.8 goals, 17.5 disposals. Kicked six goals in Round17 2015.

Best venue? MCG – 2.3 goals, 15.6 disposals

Ideal fixture: Carlton, Friday night, MCG.

Luke Breust

Career average (per match): 1.9 goals, 14.7 disposals, 3.9 tackles 

Best opponent? Adelaide – averages 2.7 goals, 16.4 disposals, 3.7 tackles. Kicked six goals in the semi-final, 2015.

Best venue? Adelaide Oval – averages 2 goals, 13.6 disposals, 3 tackles

Ideal fixture: Adelaide, Friday night, Adelaide Oval

Ben Stratton

Career average (per match): 12.6 disposals, 2.7 tackles

Best opponent? Gold Coast – averages 17.1 disposals, 2.7 tackles.

Best venue? MCG – averages 12.7 disposals, 2.8 tackles

Ideal fixture: Gold Coast, Sunday afternoon, MCG

Ryan Schoenmakers

Career average (per match): 12.4 disposals, 4.2 marks

Best opponent? Port Adelaide – averages 15.5 disposals, 5.8 marks.

Best venue? MCG – averages 12.3 disposals, 4.3 marks 

Ideal fixture: Port Adelaide, Sunday afternoon, MCG

Liam Shiels

Career average (per match): 19.5 disposals, 5.9 tackles

Best opponent? Fremantle – 20.82 disposals, 6.3 tackles. Managed 15 tackles in Round 8 2015.

Best venue? Subiaco – averages 17 disposals, 6.5 tackles

Ideal fixture: Fremantle, Saturday afternoon, MCG (second-best stadium)

Ty Vickery

Career average (per match): 10.1 disposals, 1.3 goals

Best opponent? Carlton – averages 10 disposals, 1.9 goals

Best venue? Etihad Stadium – averages 10.8 disposals, 1.2 goals

Ideal fixture: Carlton, Thursday night, Etihad Stadium 

Paul Puopolo

Career average (per match): 14.5 disposals, 1 goal, 4.3 tackles

Best opponent? Essendon – averages 15 disposals, 2 goals, 6 tackles 

Best venue? MCG – averages 14.6 disposals, 1.1 goal, 4.4 goals

Ideal fixture: Essendon, Saturday afternoon, MCG

Will Langford 

Career average (per match): 18.3 disposals, 4.3 tackles 

Best opponent? West Coast – averages 21 disposals, 7 tackles 

Best venue? MCG – averages 19 disposals, 4.4 tackles

Ideal fixture: West Coast, Saturday afternoon, MCG

Ricky Henderson

Career average (per match): 17 disposals, 5.2 marks

Best opponent? Geelong – averages 20 disposals, 5.4 marks

Best venue? Kardinia Park – averages 20.3 disposals, 5.33 marks

Ideal fixture: Geelong, Friday night, Kardinia Park

Cyril Rioli

Career average (per match): 15 disposals, 1.5 goals, 4.6 tackles 

Best opponent? Fremantle – averages 15.2 disposals, 2.1 goals, 5.2 tackles. Kicked five goals against the Dockers in Round 11 2011.

Best venue? MCG – averages 15.1 disposals, 1.6 goals, 4.5 tackles

Ideal fixture: Fremantle, Saturday afternoon, MCG.