Carlton faces return clashes against AFL heavyweights Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon Carlton faces a challenging 2014 fixture after being gifted a finals berth. CARLTON'S unlikely finals victory over Richmond has handed it a challenging fixture for 2014. A September berth seemed out of the question until Essendon was sensationally booted from this year's finals. But the resultant finals win means Carlton now play four of last year's top eight sides a second time. The Blues are believed to have been fixtured return clashes against heavyweights Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon, who finished top eight but were relegated to ninth. The top-six finish under a new AFL finals formula automatically qualifies Carlton for a tougher fixture, with more double encounters against fellow top-six sides. The Blues will play Richmond just once, in Round 2 at the MCG, and the Bombers for the first time in Round 3. It comes as the AFL strongly considers a gate levy for 2014 that would see clubs contributing to a pool of funds, which are then split among struggling clubs. The league is yet to release details or confirm if the levy will be in operation next season or in 2015. But it is one measure being considered by league chiefs given the fixturing inequalities in the system. It would mean clubs like Collingwood and Carlton effectively pay a tax on attendances that is reallocated to financial battlers. While the AFL has sought to equalise the competition with a new fixture format, there are fears from bottom-six clubs the change will affect their bottom line. Those in the bottom six might have a better football fixture given they are more likely to play each other twice, but a dramatically worse commercial fixture. Melbourne was hit with an immediate $1 million budget shortfall when its fixture was released in 2013 given home games against low-drawing rivals. Clubs like the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Melbourne - all in the bottom six this year - will have one or no double meetings against top six sides. They will also have two or three double meetings with fellow bottom six sides, but believe that rules out cash bonanzas against big-drawing top-six sides.