While the once-dreaded five-day turnaround does not pose as difficult as a challenge in years past, with teams improving their capability to deal with the reduced recovery, it still holds implications, particularly early on in the gruelling six-month-long AFL season.
With the release of the 2026 AFL Fixture, it has been revealed that 13 clubs will be tasked with at least one five-day break before Round 16, with a further four being handed multiple in that time.
The Hawthorn Hawks, while granted eight primetime games in the early stages of next season, will also face some challenging turnarounds, required to tackle a league-high three five-day breaks before Round 16.
It's a fixturing surprise, given that no team faced more than two five-day breaks before Round 16 in 2025, but it comes as a caveat for the bizarre 18-day break Hawthorn will have to endure between their Round 2 Thursday night blockbuster against Sydney and the Round 4 Easter Monday duel with Geelong.
There are limits on five-day breaks, with the recent CBA permitting three five-day breaks per club, per season - an increase from one under the previous deal - meaning once Hawthorn gets past their Round 11 clash with Adelaide, they won't be given another for the remainder of 2026.
Geelong, who are already dealing with the most difficult fixture in 2026, based on the 2025 ladder, have been handed a further challenge with two five-day breaks before Round 16.
Only the Adelaide Crows and Richmond Tigers join them in that category, with the Tigers faithful hoping their young side will have the energy to bounce back against Melbourne in Round 7 and Essendon in Round 11.
Meanwhile, several clubs have got off scot-free, managing to avoid the dreaded five-day turnaround. Those sides are Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, West Coast, and the Western Bulldogs.
In 2025, all of those five clubs but the Eagles had at least one five-day break between games before Round 16.
AFL clubs with the most five-day breaks
Adelaide - 2
Brisbane - 1
Carlton - 1
Collingwood - 1
Essendon - 1
Fremantle - 1
Geelong - 2
Gold Coast - 0
GWS - 1
Hawthorn - 3
Melbourne - 2
North Melbourne - 0
Port Adelaide - 0
Richmond - 2
St Kilda - 1
Sydney - 1
West Coast - 0
Western Bulldogs - 0
