The verdict is in and the Western Bulldogs 2018 fixture has been ranked as the ninth hardest in the competition according to the AFL’s official number cruncher.

According to the Champion Data formula, Adelaide have been rated the most difficult team to play against, followed by Port Adelaide, Sydney and Geelong, as reported in the Herald Sun.

While the Club was disappointed to not to playing on Good Friday in 2018, there are plenty of positives elsewhere, beginning with playing three of the first four games at Etihad Stadium and 13 overall.

The Dogs travel just five times in 2018, with trips to Canberra, Adelaide (twice) and Perth (twice), after hitting the road six times last season, and play only two 2017 finalists twice in West Coast and Port Adelaide.

Five games to watch: 2018 Fixture

Fremantle, Richmond, West Coast and Hawthorn have the toughest run to September, while Collingwood, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide’s fixtures have been rated the most favourable.

Champion Data ranked the Dogs’ 2017 fixture as the competition’s fourth hardest.