West Coast will host three home Friday night fixtures as well as a Thursday night fixture as the reigning premiers earn more prime-time exposure in their 2019 fixture.

The Eagles will face Port Adelaide (round five), Melbourne (round nine) and Collingwood (round 17) in Friday night clashes next season, with a Thursday night blockbuster against expected improvers Essendon straight out of the bye.

The two derby clashes against Fremantle have been slated as Saturday night clashes, with the first in round four looming as just the second game of Andrew Gaff’s season following his suspension in last year’s final derby.

THE GOOD
Just five six-day breaks are in place for the Eagles, with the possibility of a sixth heading into the floating round of fixtures to close out the home-and-away season. West Coast also have three MCG clashes, their equal-highest tally at the home of footy since 2005. The Thursday and Friday night exposure will also put the club in the national spotlight for some blockbuster clashes.

THE BAD
It looms as a tough finish to the season for Adam Simpson’s side. West Coast closes out the year with clashes against Adelaide, Richmond and Hawthorn, meaning they’ll be tested as they likely jostle for a finals spot. Trips to Geelong and Sydney in the first half of the season will also test them out.

THE UGLY
The five opponents that West Coast play twice in 2019 are formidable. There’s the annual double-up against Fremantle, and also two games against Collingwood, Melbourne, Hawthorn and Adelaide. With all five clubs expected to either improve or remain highly competitive, that’s a challenge for the premiers.

FULL 2019 FIXTURE

Follows the fortunes of the first all-Aboriginal Australian Rules football team to enter a mainstream AFL-affiliated competition.

26:36 mins

R1: v Brisbane (Gabba), Sat March 23

R2: v GWS (Optus), Sat March 30

R3: v Collingwood (MCG), Sat April 6

R4: v Fremantle (Optus), Sat April 13

R5: v Port Adelaide (Optus), Fri April 19

R6: v Geelong (GMHBA), Sun April 28

R7: v Gold Coast (Optus), Sat May 4

R8: v St Kilda (Marvel), Sat May 11

R9: v Melbourne (Optus), Fri May 17

R10: v Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Sat May 25

R11: v Western Bulldogs (Optus), Sun June 2

R12: v Sydney (SCG), Sun June 9

R13: BYE

R14: v Essendon (Optus), Thu June 20

R15: v Hawthorn (MCG), Sat June 29

R16: v Fremantle (Optus), Sat July 6

R17: v Collingwood (Optus), Fri July 12

R18: v Melbourne (Traeger Park), Sun July 21

R19: v North Melbourne (Optus), Sat July 27

R20: v Carlton (Marvel), Sun Aug 4

R21: v Adelaide (Optus), Sun Aug 11

R22: v Richmond (MCG), Sun Aug 18

R23: v Hawthorn (Optus), TBC