AFL Cats vs Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 19, 2026, 11:39AM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Cats vs Tigers Round 24 DFS contest kicks off at 7:45pm AEST on August 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 24.
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 strongest 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Geelong Cats vs Richmond match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH, MID) | $6,000 | 54.3 | 9.1 |
| Fade | Oliver Dempsey (GEEL, MID) | $13,490 | 81.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Kaleb Smith (RICH, DEF) | $6,130 | 55.3 | 9 |
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 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 | Max Holmes (GEEL) | $14,850 | 103.3 | 7 |
| Value | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,130 | 55.3 | 9 |
| Fade | Tanner Bruhn (GEEL) | $13,810 | 86.3 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Lennox Hofmann (GEEL) | $6,000 | 45.3 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH) | $6,000 | 54.3 | 9.1 |
| Fade | Oliver Dempsey (GEEL) | $13,490 | 81.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 49.1 | 8.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $12,940 | 80.9 | 6.3 |
| Value | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 49.1 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $11,260 | 68.6 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Jesse Mellor (GEEL) | $6,000 | 48 | 8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Nankervis (RICH) | $13,430 | 83.9 | 6.2 |
| Value | Samson Ryan (RICH) | $6,150 | 48.9 | 8 |
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 Tigers Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Josh Smillie. 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 Kaleb Smith.
On the other hand, according to our model, Oliver Dempsey 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 Tigers slate closes at 7:45pm 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 Tigers Round 24 slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Cats vs Tigers 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 Richmond 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.
