A day after Port’s ambition to play for premiership points in China was confirmed – with a round eight match against Gold Coast at Jiangwan Sports Centre, with both clubs to have a bye the following week – the fixture also sees the Power heading off on a perhaps less auspicious road trip, facing the Western Bulldogs at the newly-redeveloped Eureka Stadium in Ballarat in Round 22.

The Power will also again face GWS in Canberra in Round 4, capping off a challenging opening month which also features fixtures against grand finalists Sydney and crosstown rivals Adelaide, as well as hosting a Dockers outfit hoping to claw back into contention after a forgettable 2016.

The Crows, the league’s highest-scoring team in 2016, have been rewarded with a fixture that will see them host four marquee Friday night matches, as well as another Friday night grudge match against the Cats in Geelong and a home Thursday night game hosting Hawthorn.

CEO Andrew Fagan said the club was “absolutely rapt” with the draw, lauding it as reflecting “the success we have enjoyed both on and off the field in recent times”.

“The league has a history of rewarding clubs that play an attacking and entertaining style of football, as well as those that have a large and passionate supporter base and consistently delivering excellent television ratings,” he said in a statement.

“As such we feel the club and our fans are deserving of premium timeslots which showcase the Crows on the national stage [and] five Friday night matches including four at Adelaide Oval, plus a Thursday night at home, is a great result on every level.”

The Crows were also pleased to draw three matches at the MCG, while noting that “our number of six-day breaks [seven] is slightly higher than we would like, but consistent with last year”.

Six-day breaks were spotlighted at the end of the home and away round this year when the Crows pushed for a Friday night showpiece against West Coast that saw them coming off consecutive shortened turnarounds. The Eagles won by 29 points.

But Fagan insisted “the coaches and players will embrace the challenge and we take comfort in knowing we have an outstanding high performance team who will ensure the boys are well prepared”.

Like Port, the Crows start the year with an ominous task, facing 2016 finalists GWS and Hawthorn to open their campaign.

They also face top-four finishers Geelong and Hawthorn twice, along with mooted bolters Melbourne and Essendon, and the traditional two Showdowns.

“As always, there will be much debate about which clubs have a ‘tough’ football draw but as this year proved more so than any other, it is foolish to sit here and predict results months in advance,” Fagan said.

The Crows will also play matches in Hobart and Darwin.

Port’s only Friday night game will see the Power hosting Carlton in the opener to Anzac Round. It will also play twice on Thursday nights, visiting Geelong in Round 10 before hosting the Hawks the following week.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the fixture was “very positive with so much to look forward to, highlighted by our landmark Round 8 game in Shanghai”.

“Our Shanghai game in May next year is set to be a game changer for Port Adelaide and will significantly strengthen our club for many years to come,” he said.

Thomas said the club was “delighted to be playing the majority of our eleven home games at night”.

“We host one game in the Thursday night timeslot, another on a Friday night, three as a twilight Saturday fixture and another two on a Saturday night,” he said.

“From our member feedback and attendances over the last three seasons it is easier for our people to attend games in the late afternoon or evening so we believe these timeslots will again resonate positively with our community.”

Unsurprisingly, Grand Finalists Sydney and the Western Bulldogs are big winners from the draw, with the reigning premiers netting seven Friday night games plus one on a Thursday night, while the Swans play eight times on a Friday night and twice on a Thursday night.

The premiership decider was the fourth most-watched game in VFL/AFL history, behind Grand Finals in 1996, 2005 and 2006 – all of which featured the Swans.

The full fixture can be viewed HERE.