AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2025
Last updated: Jul 31, 2025, 8:34AM | Published: Jul 30, 2025, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Round 21 DFS contest kicks off at 7:30pm AEST on July 31, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create 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 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most reliable 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Western Bulldogs vs GWS GIANTS match-up to help you find the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $16,090 | 110.8 | 6.9 |
| Value | Jedd Busslinger (WB, DEF) | $6,750 | 58.5 | 8.7 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS, MID) | $10,790 | 62.7 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan McNeil (WB, FWD) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
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 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 | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | $15,580 | 104.3 | 6.7 |
| Value | Jedd Busslinger (WB) | $6,750 | 58.5 | 8.7 |
| Fade | Bailey Dale (WB) | $14,000 | 86.5 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Rory Lobb (WB) | $7,800 | 56.3 | 7.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $16,090 | 110.8 | 6.9 |
| Value | Caleb Poulter (WB) | $7,940 | 61.2 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $10,790 | 62.7 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Toby Bedford (GWS) | $7,490 | 57.2 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Darcy (WB) | $13,650 | 87.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Lachlan McNeil (WB) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Jesse Hogan (GWS) | $10,140 | 69.3 | 6.8 |
| Cheapie | Harvey Thomas (GWS) | $6,690 | 51.7 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $16,090 | 105.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jake Riccardi (GWS) | $9,990 | 70.1 | 7 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Bulldogs vs Giants Round 21 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 seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Lachlan McNeil.
On the other hand, according to our model, Stephen Coniglio is one of the worst 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 Giants slate closes at 7:30pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Giants Round 21 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 Giants 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 GWS GIANTS 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.
