AFL Bombers vs Demons Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 5, 2026
Last updated: Apr 11, 2026, 2:33AM | Published: Apr 8, 2026, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Demons Round 5 DFS contest starts at 1:15pm AEST on April 11, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 5.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the best 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 Essendon vs Melbourne match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $17,960 | 119.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Elijah Tsatas (ESS, MID) | $6,710 | 69.6 | 10.4 |
| Fade | Tom Sparrow (MELB, MID) | $11,840 | 75.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Ridley (ESS, DEF) | $9,300 | 87.7 | 9.4 |
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'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 budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight 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 | Archie Roberts (ESS) | $14,260 | 91.2 | 6.4 |
| Value | Jordan Ridley (ESS) | $9,300 | 87.7 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Christian Salem (MELB) | $13,950 | 89.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Harrison Petty (MELB) | $6,000 | 46 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jack Steele (MELB) | $16,800 | 111.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Elijah Tsatas (ESS) | $6,710 | 69.6 | 10.4 |
| Fade | Tom Sparrow (MELB) | $11,840 | 75.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Sullivan Robey (ESS) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $14,370 | 94.7 | 6.6 |
| Value | Sullivan Robey (ESS) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Kade Chandler (MELB) | $10,030 | 65.8 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Isaac Kako (ESS) | $6,190 | 48.9 | 7.9 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $17,960 | 119.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Lachlan Blakiston (ESS) | $7,150 | 55.3 | 7.7 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Bombers vs Demons Round 5 teams, consider starting with a value player like Elijah Tsatas. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Max Gawn 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 Jordan Ridley.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tom Sparrow is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Bombers vs Demons slate closes at 1:15pm 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 Bombers vs Demons Round 5 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 Bombers vs Demons 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 Melbourne 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.
