AFL Bombers vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 13, 2026, 8:33AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Hawks Round 1 DFS contest kicks off at 7:40pm AEDT on March 13, 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 crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 1.
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 accurate 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 Essendon vs Hawthorn match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, MID) | $15,530 | 111.9 | 7.2 |
| Value | Ben McKay (ESS, DEF) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Zach Reid (ESS, DEF) | $11,190 | 60.3 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Ned Reeves (HAW, RK) | $8,070 | 68 | 8.4 |
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 | James Sicily (HAW) | $13,680 | 88.9 | 6.5 |
| Value | Ben McKay (ESS) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Zach Reid (ESS) | $11,190 | 60.3 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Tom Barrass (HAW) | $6,000 | 45.7 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $15,530 | 111.9 | 7.2 |
| Value | Sam Butler (HAW) | $7,600 | 58.2 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Archie Roberts (ESS) | $13,690 | 84.4 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Jaxon Prior (ESS) | $9,070 | 66.9 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Durham (ESS) | $11,900 | 86.1 | 7.2 |
| Value | Archie Perkins (ESS) | $7,550 | 59 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Connor Macdonald (HAW) | $12,760 | 83.4 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Sam Butler (HAW) | $7,600 | 58.2 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $14,320 | 88 | 6.1 |
| Value | Ned Reeves (HAW) | $8,070 | 68 | 8.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Bombers vs Hawks Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Ben McKay. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zach Merrett 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 Ned Reeves.
On the other hand, according to our model, Zach Reid is one of the lowest 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 Bombers vs Hawks slate closes at 7:40pm AEDT on Friday. 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 Hawks Round 1 slate. 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 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 Essendon 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.
