AFL Bombers vs Saints Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2026
Last updated: Jul 3, 2026, 4:41AM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:40AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Saints Round 17 DFS contest kicks off at 3:15pm AEST on July 5, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 17.
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 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 St Kilda match-up to help you make the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, MID/DEF) | $16,940 | 112.7 | 6.7 |
| Value | Angus Hastie (STK, DEF) | $6,120 | 49.7 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Rowan Marshall (STK, RK) | $15,210 | 78.8 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Alex Dodson (STK, RK) | $6,000 | 46.6 | 7.8 |
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 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 | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $16,940 | 112.7 | 6.7 |
| Value | Angus Hastie (STK) | $6,120 | 49.7 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Bradley Hill (STK) | $14,010 | 87.7 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Liam Stocker (STK) | $6,210 | 45.1 | 7.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $16,940 | 112.7 | 6.7 |
| Value | Jye Caldwell (ESS) | $11,080 | 81.8 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Bradley Hill (STK) | $14,010 | 87.7 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Byrnes (STK) | $8,420 | 60.9 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Peter Wright (ESS) | $11,240 | 72.9 | 6.5 |
| Value | Dan Butler (STK) | $6,000 | 44.1 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Mattaes Phillipou (STK) | $10,080 | 64.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Liam Henry (STK) | $6,600 | 48 | 7.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $15,210 | 78.8 | 5.2 |
| Value | Alex Dodson (STK) | $6,000 | 46.6 | 7.8 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bombers vs Saints Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Angus Hastie. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Alex Dodson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Rowan Marshall is one of the worst 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 Saints slate closes at 3:15pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Saints Round 17 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 Saints 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 St Kilda 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.
