Pokemon Emerald - what order should I tackle the gyms?

you don't really get a choice, the story gates you. roxanne in rustboro, brawly in dewford, wattson in mauville, flannery in lavaridge, then your dad norman in petalburg, winona in fortree, tate and liza in mossdeep, juan in sootopolis. if you went mudkip you're laughing for most of it. treecko has the rougher time early, flannery and her fire types especially.