Unless of course those fans are in Launceston, and that has nothing to do with a 3.20pm on a Sunday in round 15.

It is hard to fathom how one can declare that continuously delivering fans in this part of the world virtually the same opposition clubs for the two-time reigning premier Hawthorn as being "fan friendly".

Next year will be the third year in a row for the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane, the fourth for Fremantle since 2010, and its 10th overall fixture in Launceston.

It will overtake St Kilda as second on the all-times games played list at the venue behind the Hawks.

Gold Coast has only been in the competition since 2011, but next year will be its third trip in Launceston.

If variety is the spice of life, then there's not much spice in our life at the moment.

While from a football point of view three of these games are "interesting", to label them any of them a blockbuster would be a stretch too far.

Yes, Fremantle is one of the few clubs that could win the premiership.

But the tail-end of 2014 seemed to lean towards higher-scoring, quick movement football being back in vogue, something the Dockers are not adept at.

Gold Coast, with Gary Ablett and his army of talented youngsters, have potential to burn, and Brisbane should sneak closer to the eight thanks to its recruiting officer.

And don't get me started on the Bulldogs, who at the moment don't have a coach and their captain left for Greater Western Sydney.

You could understand Port Adelaide being off-limits at the moment due to its sudden marketability, and Sydney will never play here again while Lance Franklin is on its books, but St Kilda and Melbourne are two clubs that aren't going to pack out the MCG and could easily have been sent down here.

The question needs to be asked as well, considering the financial investment that this state puts into the Hawks, is getting the same teams year after year a justified return?

There are 17 other clubs in the competition.

Long-term there are only three you would say are completely off-limits (Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon) in the home and away season, and that still leaves another 14.

The counter argument is the Magpies visiting in the preseason.

But while that will be fun, at the end of the day it means absolutely nothing, although it will be interesting to see how that crowd figure stacks up in comparison to others later in the year.

While people will accuse this of being a Northern whinge, the perceived lack of variety in Launceston's AFL fixtures is quantified when you look at what is happening down South next year.

A genuine blockbuster with two Melbourne finalists from this year when Richmond visits to face North Melbourne, while West Coast just missed out on September and has a strong following in Tasmania.

Even St Kilda's status as wooden spooner doesn't dilute the fact it has a strong Tasmanian supporter-base and is a second Melbourne derby.

Here's a fact to ponder.

While North Melbourne has had a different opponent in each of its six matches so far, with the Tigers making it seven, the first six games at Aurora Stadium were all teams from Perth or Adelaide.

There's your variety.