AFL Cats vs Eagles Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 5, 2026
Last updated: Apr 12, 2026, 1:32AM | Published: Apr 8, 2026, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Eagles Round 5 DFS contest kicks off at 12:30pm AEST on April 12, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 5.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the best DFS projections in the world.
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 Geelong Cats vs West Coast Eagles match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,070 | 118.8 | 6.6 |
| Value | Harry Schoenberg (WCE, FWD) | $6,000 | 53.9 | 9 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL, FWD/RK) | $10,550 | 61.9 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Bailey J. Williams (WCE, FWD/RK) | $7,460 | 65 | 8.7 |
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 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 | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $14,390 | 91.5 | 6.4 |
| Value | Reuben Ginbey (WCE) | $6,250 | 50.3 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Tanner Bruhn (GEEL) | $13,090 | 82.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Tylar Young (WCE) | $6,110 | 47.2 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $18,070 | 118.8 | 6.6 |
| Value | Elijah Hewett (WCE) | $9,080 | 67 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Willem Duursma (WCE) | $10,900 | 66.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Oisin Mullin (GEEL) | $6,910 | 45.1 | 6.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $14,520 | 95.9 | 6.6 |
| Value | Harry Schoenberg (WCE) | $6,000 | 53.9 | 9 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $10,550 | 61.9 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Bailey J. Williams (WCE) | $7,460 | 65 | 8.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey J. Williams (WCE) | $7,460 | 65 | 8.7 |
| Value | Bailey J. Williams (WCE) | $7,460 | 65 | 8.7 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Cats vs Eagles Round 5 teams, consider starting with a value player like Harry Schoenberg. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Bailey J. Williams.
On the other hand, according to our model, Shannon Neale is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Cats vs Eagles slate closes at 12:30pm 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 Cats vs Eagles Round 5 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 Cats 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 Geelong Cats 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.
