The Western Bulldogs may be unhappy at losing the coveted Good Friday fixture, but an assessment of the 2018 draw gives fans of the red, white and blue every reason to smile, little more than 12 months after winning the premiership.

Under a formula that takes into account who your club plays twice, the number of six-day breaks, the relative difficulty of road trips – from Spotless Stadium in western Sydney to Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai and everywhere in between – and the value of home-ground advantage against a travelling opponent, the Doggies have been allocated the second-best fixture for next year, thanks in part to multiple games against North Melbourne and Carlton.

The Doggies have been allocated the second-best fixture for next year, our formula shows. Credit:AAP

The Bulldogs also meet West Coast, Port Adelaide and Melbourne twice, and should they overcome a tricky start – their first four games are against finalists from this year – they could lay the foundations for a successful 2018 and dispense their premiership hangover to the dustbin.