AFL Bombers vs Swans Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 16, 2026, 6:39AM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:37AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bombers vs Swans Round 23 DFS contest commences at 4:41pm AEST on August 16, 2026, 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 23.
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 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 Sydney Swans match-up to help you make the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD, MID) | $17,090 | 106.3 | 6.2 |
| Value | Harrison Jones (ESS, DEF/FWD) | $6,000 | 46.8 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD, FWD/MID) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Nate Caddy (ESS, FWD) | $7,540 | 58.9 | 7.8 |
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 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 | Callum Mills (SYD) | $13,940 | 90.7 | 6.5 |
| Value | Harrison Jones (ESS) | $6,000 | 46.8 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Riley Bice (SYD) | $12,140 | 73.6 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Zach Reid (ESS) | $7,010 | 53.6 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $17,090 | 106.3 | 6.2 |
| Value | Jaxon Prior (ESS) | $8,380 | 63.5 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Angus Clarke (ESS) | $8,430 | 59.1 | 7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $15,820 | 97.4 | 6.2 |
| Value | Harrison Jones (ESS) | $6,000 | 46.8 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Nate Caddy (ESS) | $7,540 | 58.9 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,320 | 101 | 6.2 |
| Value | Nick Bryan (ESS) | $9,540 | 67.2 | 7 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bombers vs Swans Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Harrison Jones. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Errol Gulden is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Nate Caddy.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jesse Dattoli 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 Bombers vs Swans slate closes at 4:41pm 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 Swans Round 23 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 Swans 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 Sydney Swans 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.
