PROS: Avoid a lot of travel in the second half of the season with seven straight games in Melbourne from rounds 15-21.

CONS: Fitness staff will be working overtime with six six-day breaks and a five-day break after their Anzac Day clash. Also have two trips to Queensland and New South Wales.

PLAY TWICE: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle.

BYE: Round 13

FIRST FOUR WEEKS: Hawthorn (h), Brisbane Lions (a), Carlton (a), Adelaide (a).

LAST FOUR WEEKS: Carlton (h), Adelaide (h), Gold Coast (a), Fremantle (h).

SIX-DAY BREAKS: Six (and one five-day break).

THEY SAY: "We believe the draw presents great opportunities from a team performance perspective," Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said. “Of course, we would like to be playing more Friday night football, but we welcome the increase in games scheduled on Saturday afternoons and evenings."

WE SAY: Finishing with the wooden spoon has its benefits. Along with having the No.1 draft pick, the Bombers also only play one top-eight team (Adelaide) twice next season. They can get off to a quick start with two of their opening seven games against teams who made the finals. The downside of their poor season is the Bombers only have two Friday night games and haven't been scheduled for any Thursday night fixtures.