AFL Bombers vs Blues Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2025
Last updated: Aug 21, 2025, 8:33AM | Published: Aug 20, 2025, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Blues Round 24 DFS contest commences at 7:30pm AEST on August 21, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 24.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Essendon vs Carlton match-up to help you find the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, MID) | $15,820 | 103.5 | 6.5 |
| Value | Saad El-Hawli (ESS, DEF/MID) | $6,290 | 59.3 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Tom De Koning (CARL, RK) | $13,550 | 74.9 | 5.5 |
| Cheapie | Lucas Camporeale (CARL, MID) | $6,180 | 58.4 | 9.5 |
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 | Mason Redman (ESS) | $13,580 | 87.8 | 6.5 |
| Value | Saad El-Hawli (ESS) | $6,290 | 59.3 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Nick Haynes (CARL) | $11,590 | 72.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Billy Wilson (CARL) | $6,000 | 52 | 8.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $15,820 | 103.5 | 6.5 |
| Value | Saad El-Hawli (ESS) | $6,290 | 59.3 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Andrew McGrath (ESS) | $13,750 | 78.3 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Lucas Camporeale (CARL) | $6,180 | 58.4 | 9.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry McKay (CARL) | $12,340 | 79.5 | 6.4 |
| Value | Corey Durdin (CARL) | $6,000 | 51.7 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Zac Williams (CARL) | $10,200 | 65.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Liam McMahon (ESS) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom De Koning (CARL) | $13,550 | 74.9 | 5.5 |
| Value | Hudson O'Keeffe (CARL) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bombers vs Blues Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Saad El-Hawli. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zach Merrett is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Lucas Camporeale.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tom De Koning is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Bombers vs Blues 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 Bombers vs Blues Round 24 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Bombers vs Blues 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 Essendon vs Carlton 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.
