AFL Cats vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2026
Last updated: Jul 2, 2026, 8:40AM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:39AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Lions Round 17 DFS contest kicks off at 7:30pm AEST on July 2, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make 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 17.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 Brisbane Lions match-up to help you make the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,480 | 119.8 | 6.9 |
| Value | Eric Hipwood (BL, FWD) | $6,000 | 53 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL, DEF) | $14,710 | 90.7 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Gardiner (BL, DEF) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
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 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 | Max Holmes (GEEL) | $15,650 | 104 | 6.6 |
| Value | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL) | $14,710 | 90.7 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | James Tunstill (BL) | $6,780 | 52.6 | 7.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,480 | 119.8 | 6.9 |
| Value | James Tunstill (BL) | $6,780 | 52.6 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,270 | 65.2 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,200 | 62.2 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $13,840 | 90.1 | 6.5 |
| Value | Eric Hipwood (BL) | $6,000 | 53 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,270 | 65.2 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $9,020 | 70.4 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Fort (BL) | $8,810 | 66 | 7.5 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,200 | 62.2 | 7.6 |
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 Lions Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Eric Hipwood. 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 Darcy Gardiner.
On the other hand, according to our model, Darcy Wilmot is one of the lowest 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 Lions 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 Cats vs Lions Round 17 slate. 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 Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
