AFL Bulldogs vs Eagles Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026, 2:35AM | Published: Jul 8, 2026, 9:45AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bulldogs vs Eagles Round 18 DFS contest begins at 1:10pm AEST on July 12, 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 a must 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 18.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the best DFS projections in the world.
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 West Coast Eagles match-up to help you make the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $16,360 | 105.7 | 6.5 |
| Value | Jedd Busslinger (WB, DEF) | $6,620 | 53.6 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB, MID/FWD) | $12,200 | 75.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Tom Cole (WCE, FWD) | $7,490 | 58 | 7.7 |
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 | Bailey Dale (WB) | $15,900 | 100.4 | 6.3 |
| Value | Jedd Busslinger (WB) | $6,620 | 53.6 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Tom McCarthy (WCE) | $13,470 | 87.7 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Rhett Bazzo (WCE) | $6,000 | 45.3 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $16,360 | 105.7 | 6.5 |
| Value | Hamish Davis (WCE) | $6,870 | 51.9 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $12,200 | 75.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Brady Hough (WCE) | $6,850 | 50.1 | 7.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jake Waterman (WCE) | $10,900 | 75.5 | 6.9 |
| Value | Tom Cole (WCE) | $7,490 | 58 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $12,200 | 75.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Milan Murdock (WCE) | $8,770 | 67.1 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey J. Williams (WCE) | $12,020 | 78.2 | 6.5 |
| Value | Jack Williams (WCE) | $7,040 | 49.3 | 7 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Bulldogs vs Eagles Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jedd Busslinger. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Marcus Bontempelli is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Tom Cole.
On the other hand, according to our model, Joel Freijah is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Bulldogs vs Eagles slate closes at 1:10pm 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 Eagles Round 18 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Bulldogs vs Eagles 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 West Coast Eagles 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.
