AFL Blues vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2025
Last updated: Jul 10, 2025, 8:32AM | Published: Jul 9, 2025, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Blues vs Lions Round 18 DFS contest starts at 7:30pm AEST on July 10, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble 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, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Carlton vs Brisbane Lions match-up to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hugh McCluggage (BL, MID) | $15,800 | 97.2 | 6.2 |
| Value | Jesse Motlop (CARL, FWD) | $6,650 | 54.6 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Dayne Zorko (BL, DEF) | $15,900 | 93.1 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Gardiner (BL, FWD/DEF) | $6,380 | 52.2 | 8.2 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are 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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,900 | 93.1 | 5.9 |
| Value | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,380 | 52.2 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Jaspa Fletcher (BL) | $12,040 | 74.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Brandon Starcevich (BL) | $7,040 | 49.8 | 7.1 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hugh McCluggage (BL) | $15,800 | 97.2 | 6.2 |
| Value | Cooper Lord (CARL) | $8,540 | 64.1 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Levi Ashcroft (BL) | $11,460 | 67.8 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Zac Williams (CARL) | $9,310 | 67.4 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $12,130 | 73.5 | 6.1 |
| Value | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,380 | 52.2 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Levi Ashcroft (BL) | $11,460 | 67.8 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Jesse Motlop (CARL) | $6,650 | 54.6 | 8.2 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom De Koning (CARL) | $12,780 | 84.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Marc Pittonet (CARL) | $10,020 | 72.3 | 7.2 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Blues vs Lions Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jesse Motlop. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Hugh McCluggage is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Darcy Gardiner.
On the other hand, according to our model, Dayne Zorko is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Blues vs Lions slate closes at 7:30pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Lions Round 18 slate. 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 Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
