AFL Blues vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 8, 2026, 5:39PM | Published: Jul 8, 2026, 9:45AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Blues vs Hawks Round 18 DFS contest kicks off at 7:35pm AEST on July 11, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 18.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
With the latest AFL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more AFL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We've reviewed players from each team in the Carlton vs Hawthorn match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Walsh (CARL, MID) | $14,580 | 97.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Henry Hustwaite (HAW, MID) | $6,000 | 59.1 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Will Day (HAW, MID) | $13,230 | 83.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Aidan Schubert (HAW, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 54.7 | 9.1 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they're expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options refer to the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
DEF (Defender)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nic Newman (CARL) | $13,900 | 94 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jordan Boyd (CARL) | $7,210 | 57.3 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Josh Battle (HAW) | $12,400 | 79.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Harry Charleson (CARL) | $6,000 | 46.7 | 7.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Walsh (CARL) | $14,580 | 97.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Henry Hustwaite (HAW) | $6,000 | 59.1 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Will Day (HAW) | $13,230 | 83.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Oliver Greeves (HAW) | $6,000 | 52.1 | 8.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jack Ginnivan (HAW) | $11,970 | 83.2 | 7 |
| Value | Aidan Schubert (HAW) | $6,000 | 54.7 | 9.1 |
| Fade | Ben Ainsworth (CARL) | $11,060 | 72.3 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Finn Maginness (HAW) | $6,260 | 53.1 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry McKay (CARL) | $10,360 | 73.8 | 7.1 |
| Value | Aidan Schubert (HAW) | $6,000 | 54.7 | 9.1 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Blues vs Hawks Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Henry Hustwaite. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Sam Walsh is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Aidan Schubert.
On the other hand, according to our model, Will Day is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Blues vs Hawks slate closes at 7:35pm AEST on Saturday. ENTER NOW!
As with all AFL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven AFL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the AFL Blues vs Hawks Round 18 contest. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Blues vs Hawks line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full Carlton vs Hawthorn prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
