The 54 match 2015/16 W-League regular season schedule was recently released with each of the 9 W-League teams playing 12 matches with two byes through 14 rounds.

We take a look at how the schedules have set up each of the teams for the a tilt at the Season 8 premiership and championship.

Melbourne Victory: Cheryl Downes

Well Melbourne Victory might be behind the eight ball in selecting and naming their roster, but they now know what the future holds for them.

With a first up match at home against last season’s finalists Perth Glory, things possibly couldn’t start any harder. That said, you only need to look to their second match to know that harder is right there in the form of the star-studded Melbourne City team.

In total, Victory have four matches against last season’s top four. Not bad considering Melbourne City has seven, but with two matches against Perth and Melbourne City, the draw is possibly neither their friend nor their foe.

Conceivably, one good thing for Victory and their fans is that they won’t have to travel interstate until Round 5, with three home games from the first four plus a pseudo home game against new derby rivals, Melbourne City.

On the flip side, Victory will have two stretches of three games where they won’t play at home, courtesy of a combination of away games plus a bye (round 5-7, 12-14).

Finally, it wouldn’t be Victory if they didn’t have four different home venues and I hope you have a car because the venues are on average almost 23km from the CBD. Australia is known for it’s sheer distances and several super passionate supporters who think little of driving from Melbourne to Canberra for a match, but we like to complain about public transport and travelling to far and wide places for football matches.

Let’s see what happens with attendances this season.

Like any team, the key will be to start well, a task which might be harder for Victory than most. Losing more than their fare share of key players and on the back foot with rosters won’t help their cause.

If Victory are to be in with a serious chance this season, they will need to walk away with oodles of points from their round 3, 4 and 5 matches where they’re at home against Newcastle and Adelaide, and away against the Wanderers. Historically they’re winnable matches but history in the context of W-League is volatile, so stay tuned.

Newcastle Jets: Daniel Hanney

On paper the 2015/16 W-League draw looks a fantastic one for the Newcastle Jets, in fact they could not have dreamt of a better one.

Newcastle get an extra week’s preparation on the rest of the competition with a bye in Round 1 before facing a tough road trip to premiers Perth Glory in Round 2.

The biggest plus for the Jets due to the way the draw has fallen is the fact that they play what on paper looks to be the strongest teams, in Perth, Sydney FC, defending champions Canberra United and newcomers Melbourne City only once each.

[More: Season Fixtures Analysis: ADL, BNE, CBR, MCY]

The other sides in Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney in both home and away matches.

They are all sides that the Jets managed to get wins against last season and will stand a strong chance of doing the same again this season.

Newcastle also have the stability of playing all their home games pretty much in the same spot with all bar two home games being played at Magic Park which provides one of the best pitches in the W-League.

The other two matches are literally a stone’s throw away at Hunter Stadium serving as double headers against City on December 23 and start the New Year against Melbourne Victory on 2nd January.

If the Jets can get some points in their first two away trips to Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory it will hold them in good stead for a big season as they look to make the finals for the first time since the inception of the W-League in 2008.

Perth Glory: Rachel Collier

With a new look management team and a freshly formed partnership with Perth Glory FC, this seasons fixtures have created a sense of excitement and expectancy amongst west coast fans.

As with every W-League season, the Glory will be doing the most traveling of any other W League team and they will have to keep up their exceptional away form of 2014/2015 to stand any chance of winning the championship.

Last season’s premiers only defeat came on the road against Adelaide United, who are now coached by Glory’s record breaking former manager, Jamie Harnwell.

The first head to head against these two teams will take place in Round 8, when Glory travel to Coopers. Jamie Harnwell will then make his must anticipated return to Ashfield Reserve in Round 13 - Glory’s last home game - when the Reds head west.

Both games will have an undercurrent of tension as Harnwell left his former employers when asked to reapply for his management position.

However, he will no doubt be greeted with affection from the Glory faithful after his suburb work over past W League campaigns upon his return.

To kick off the new #ThreeTeamsOneGlory era, Perth open their campaign against last season’s semi-finalist Melbourne victory. Rounds 2 and 3 see the team return home to Ashfield Reserve to face Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City.

Back to back away trips to Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar then follow, providing a testing couple of weeks before a Bye in round 6.

[More: W-League 2015/16 fixtures released]

Respite will also come for Glory over the busy festive period. They will return to action on the 2nd of January when they face last season’s champions Canberra United. The team will be hoping to avenge last season’s grand final defeat in their penultimate home game of the season.

Sydney FC: Ann Odong

With the new kids on the block first up, Sydney FC's season starts with a bang against Melbourne City.

With these two sides considered title favourites - thanks to you their deep rosters – the Sky Blues opening match will be an opportunity to stamp their authority on a trophy rival.

In fact the whole first month of the W-League will be a test of Sydney's title credentials with champions Canberra United and premiers Perth Glory all on the radar.

The positive for Dan Barrett's team is they will barely leave the state with two matches on home turf, one in Western Sydney and one in Canberra.

As with last season a strong start could set up the Sky Blues for the rest of the season.

The middle part of the season provides Sydney with several winnable matches and the run home sees the tricky Newcastle Jets and an end of season meeting with City – a possible prelude to the finals.

All in all this is a good draw for the two time champions dotted with breaks at the right time to break up the season and prepare them for a tilt at a third title.

Western Sydney Wanderers: Ann Odong

The draw has done Western Sydney no favours but neither has it set them up for a difficult run.

As with any sides which missed out on finals, the start of the season will be crucial for the Wanderers.

The first up match against Adelaide United would see the Wanderers fancy their chances considering their decent record of 1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws against the Reds.

Norm Boardman's side will need to bank points in the early rounds with the back half of the season comprising of 6 matches against last season's Top 4 and another against the

Newcastle Jets, who came within a whisker of the Top 4.

On the road is where the Wanderers found their best form with wins against Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC as well as draws with Canberra United.

However, at home they struggled as they were outscored 27 – 4 on their home turf.

With Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Newcastle all on the home schedule, it won't be an easy task but after experiencing their worst season in Season 7, the Wanderers will need to lock down their home form.