AFL Cats vs Crows Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 3, 2026
Last updated: Mar 25, 2026, 4:37PM | Published: Mar 25, 2026, 8:39AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Crows Round 3 DFS contest starts at 7:30pm AEDT on March 26, 2026, 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 crucial 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 3.
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 most reliable 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 Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows match-up to help you make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $16,460 | 112.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam De Koning (GEEL, DEF) | $7,510 | 62.2 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL, FWD/RK) | $13,070 | 78.9 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jhye Clark (GEEL, MID/FWD) | $6,210 | 50.6 | 8.1 |
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 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 | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $12,890 | 87.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam De Koning (GEEL) | $7,510 | 62.2 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Josh Worrell (ADEL) | $13,140 | 80.2 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Luke Nankervis (ADEL) | $7,910 | 62.2 | 7.9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $16,460 | 112.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jhye Clark (GEEL) | $6,210 | 50.6 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Tanner Bruhn (GEEL) | $13,690 | 84.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Luke Nankervis (ADEL) | $7,910 | 62.2 | 7.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $14,310 | 93 | 6.5 |
| Value | Finnbar Maley (ADEL) | $6,000 | 48.6 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $13,070 | 78.9 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jhye Clark (GEEL) | $6,210 | 50.6 | 8.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $13,070 | 78.9 | 6 |
| Value | Finnbar Maley (ADEL) | $6,000 | 48.6 | 8.1 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Cats vs Crows Round 3 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sam De Koning. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Jhye Clark.
On the other hand, according to our model, Riley Thilthorpe is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Cats vs Crows slate closes at 7:30pm AEDT 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 Cats vs Crows Round 3 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 Cats vs Crows 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 Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows 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.
