AFL Cats vs Kangaroos Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: May 1, 2026, 3:33AM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:56AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Kangaroos Round 8 DFS contest kicks off at 4:35pm AEST on May 2, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance 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 strongest 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne match-up to help you make the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,300 | 121.6 | 7 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC, RK/FWD) | $7,240 | 59.5 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Tristan Xerri (NMFC, RK) | $18,420 | 113.7 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Griffin Logue (NMFC, DEF) | $6,240 | 50.6 | 8.1 |
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 | Luke Parker (NMFC) | $14,080 | 96.1 | 6.8 |
| Value | Griffin Logue (NMFC) | $6,240 | 50.6 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $13,170 | 85.6 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Charlie Comben (NMFC) | $7,280 | 55.4 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,300 | 121.6 | 7 |
| Value | Tom Powell (NMFC) | $9,950 | 79.8 | 8 |
| Fade | Finn O'Sullivan (NMFC) | $11,070 | 68.7 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Oisin Mullin (GEEL) | $7,420 | 51.2 | 6.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jeremy Cameron (GEEL) | $13,170 | 88.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC) | $7,240 | 59.5 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $10,400 | 72.3 | 7 |
| Cheapie | Tom Powell (NMFC) | $9,950 | 79.8 | 8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tristan Xerri (NMFC) | $18,420 | 113.7 | 6.2 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC) | $7,240 | 59.5 | 8.2 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Cats vs Kangaroos Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Darling. 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, check out our cheapie options, including Griffin Logue.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tristan Xerri is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Cats vs Kangaroos slate closes at 4:35pm AEST on Saturday. 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 Kangaroos 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 Cats vs Kangaroos 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 North Melbourne 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.
