AFL Cats vs Magpies Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 9, 2026, 9:35AM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Magpies Round 9 DFS contest starts at 7:35pm AEST on May 9, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 9.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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 Collingwood match-up to help you find the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $16,090 | 118.1 | 7.3 |
| Value | Brad Close (GEEL, FWD) | $6,000 | 45.7 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL, DEF) | $13,030 | 81.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Daniel McStay (COLL, FWD) | $7,490 | 56 | 7.5 |
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 | Max Holmes (GEEL) | $16,280 | 107.8 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jake Kolodjashnij (GEEL) | $6,790 | 50.6 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $13,030 | 81.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Jeremy Howe (COLL) | $9,120 | 63.5 | 7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $16,090 | 118.1 | 7.3 |
| Value | James Worpel (GEEL) | $10,090 | 74.5 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,880 | 116.3 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Roan Steele (COLL) | $6,880 | 51.1 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jeremy Cameron (GEEL) | $13,290 | 89.3 | 6.7 |
| Value | Brad Close (GEEL) | $6,000 | 45.7 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Lachie Schultz (COLL) | $11,300 | 76.9 | 6.8 |
| Cheapie | Daniel McStay (COLL) | $7,490 | 56 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $13,780 | 88.5 | 6.4 |
| Value | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $8,920 | 63.2 | 7.1 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Cats vs Magpies Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Brad Close. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nick Daicos is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Daniel McStay.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tom Stewart is one of the lowest 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 Magpies slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Magpies Round 9 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 Magpies 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 Collingwood 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.
