AFL Bulldogs vs Blues Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 16, 2026, 4:50AM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bulldogs vs Blues Round 23 DFS contest starts at 3:15pm AEST on August 16, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each 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 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 deliver 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've reviewed players from each team in the Western Bulldogs vs Carlton match-up to help you make the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ed Richards (WB, MID) | $15,300 | 102.1 | 6.7 |
| Value | Lachlan Carmichael (WB, DEF/MID) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB, RK) | $11,720 | 62.3 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Louis Emmett (WB, FWD/RK) | $6,000 | 47.8 | 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 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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | Adam Cerra (CARL) | $13,430 | 85.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Lachlan Bramble (WB) | $12,270 | 65.7 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Buku Khamis (WB) | $6,540 | 50 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ed Richards (WB) | $15,300 | 102.1 | 6.7 |
| Value | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,630 | 72 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Sam Davidson (WB) | $7,520 | 55.6 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Matthew Kennedy (WB) | $10,940 | 87.3 | 8 |
| Value | Matthew Kennedy (WB) | $10,940 | 87.3 | 8 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,630 | 72 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Louis Emmett (WB) | $6,000 | 47.8 | 8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marc Pittonet (CARL) | $10,590 | 71 | 6.7 |
| Value | Louis Emmett (WB) | $6,000 | 47.8 | 8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Bulldogs vs Blues Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Lachlan Carmichael. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Ed Richards 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 Louis Emmett.
On the other hand, according to our model, Rory Lobb is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Bulldogs vs Blues 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 Bulldogs vs Blues Round 23 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 Bulldogs 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 Western Bulldogs 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.
