COLLINGWOOD took finals football to a new level this year, chartering a plane and flying at low altitude after defeating West Coast in a thrilling semi-final at Subiaco.

A week later, the Magpies lost by just five points to eventual premier Geelong, further fuelling speculation the club may charter more flights.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire has expressed interest in the club routinely flying its players interstate and, for some clubs at least, the sky's the limit when it comes to controlling the adverse effects of interstate travel.

The Western Bulldogs must use simpler methods in an effort to improve a poor interstate record, winning just two games on the road this year and 26 per cent of interstate games since 2003.

The Bulldogs will again play "home" games at TIO Stadium in Darwin and Manuka Oval in Canberra in a further bid to improve the club's financial position.

After dropping out of the top half of the ladder this year the Dogs can look forward to seven interstate games in 2008 — two more than this year.

Meanwhile, the AFL continues tinkering with its annual fixture in a bid to reduce travel. Since the inception of the national competition the league has warded off criticism about fixturing and tried to limit the effect of travel on players.

The release of the 2008 draw last week reduces back-to-back interstate trips by any club to five — the lowest number since Fremantle joined the competition in 1995. And there will be no travel on consecutive weekends for any team returning home from Perth.

Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna says all teams factor flight arrangements into recovery time, but players simply had to adapt to the demands of interstate travel. He said there was a "noticeable difference" in the Collingwood players after last month's experience with a private plane and the club would consider chartering planes again next year.

"The more experienced you become at travelling, the less impact it has," he said. "There has to be some effect, but if you've got a good squad it doesn't matter who you play, when you play or how far from home you play."

Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon each play four interstate games next year. Carlton, which failed to win any of its six interstate games this season, has the worst interstate record of any team in the past five years.

Chief executive Greg Swann told The Sunday Age that more clubs wanting to play Carlton in Melbourne next season had helped reduce the Blues' interstate travel requirements. "We're pleased about having four (interstate) games. We've had six for several years, so we're really happy with that part of the draw," Swann said.

Essendon, which won two of its five interstate games in 2007, is above only the Blues with a winning record of 14 per cent on the road since 2003.

Collingwood's trend of four interstate games continues, but it will be hoping to improve its recent record away from home if it wants a top-four finish next year.

Of the non-Victorian teams, Port Adelaide was the most improved away from home this season, with six wins from nine games. Last year the Power lost seven games on the road.

West Coast had six wins from 10 interstate games in 2007 and pushed its record away from Subiaco above 50 per cent for the past five years.

Adelaide lost six of 10 games away from AAMI Stadium this year, but also has a better than 50 per cent winning record away from home since 2003.

Geelong, which slipped out of the eight in 2006, reversed its poor interstate record this season with three wins from five games. The Cats and Richmond each have five interstate games in 2008 and St Kilda and Melbourne six.

Hawthorn plays four of its eight interstate games at Aurora Stadium in Tasmania and the Kangaroos play four games at Carrara, one more than this year, as part of eight interstate games.

Matches will again be played in every state and territory next season, with 99 home-and-away games scheduled in Victoria.

The AFL's chief broadcasting and commercial officer, Gillon McLachlan, said the draw would help mitigate the effect of interstate travel, with a strong focus given to on-field equity. "We've never had less back-to-back travel, we've never had a more even spread of six-day breaks," he said.