AFL Bulldogs vs Dockers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: May 1, 2026, 8:43AM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:55AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bulldogs vs Dockers Round 8 DFS contest begins at 7:30pm AEST on May 1, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 8.
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 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $16,810 | 107.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Harvey Gallagher (WB, MID) | $6,000 | 47.6 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Luke Jackson (FRE, RK) | $16,520 | 102.4 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Heath Chapman (FRE, DEF) | $8,640 | 67.6 | 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 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 | Jordan Clark (FRE) | $13,570 | 92.7 | 6.8 |
| Value | Heath Chapman (FRE) | $8,640 | 67.6 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Bailey Dale (WB) | $13,930 | 87.9 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Brennan Cox (FRE) | $7,440 | 56.1 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $16,810 | 107.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Harvey Gallagher (WB) | $6,000 | 47.6 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB) | $11,900 | 76.3 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Sam Davidson (WB) | $7,280 | 55.1 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shai Bolton (FRE) | $12,600 | 86.3 | 6.8 |
| Value | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,620 | 50.9 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Murphy Reid (FRE) | $11,070 | 77.8 | 7 |
| Cheapie | Sam Switkowski (FRE) | $7,380 | 55.9 | 7.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $15,900 | 106.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,620 | 50.9 | 7.7 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Bulldogs vs Dockers Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Harvey Gallagher. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Marcus Bontempelli is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Heath Chapman.
On the other hand, according to our model, Luke Jackson 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 Bulldogs vs Dockers slate closes at 7:30pm AEST 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 Bulldogs vs Dockers Round 8 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 Bulldogs vs Dockers 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 Fremantle 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.
