AFL Demons vs Bombers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 14, 2026
Last updated: Jun 13, 2026, 3:12AM | Published: Jun 10, 2026, 9:54AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Bombers Round 14 DFS contest commences at 1:15pm AEST on June 13, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each 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 build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 14.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best 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've reviewed players from each team in the Melbourne vs Essendon match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, DEF/MID) | $17,090 | 113.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Harrison Jones (ESS, FWD) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Elijah Tsatas (ESS, MID) | $12,610 | 76.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB, MID) | $6,000 | 50.1 | 8.4 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $17,090 | 113.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jordan Ridley (ESS) | $10,560 | 82.9 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Jake Lever (MELB) | $10,400 | 65.2 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Lukas Cooke (MELB) | $6,000 | 44.6 | 7.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $17,090 | 113.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.1 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Elijah Tsatas (ESS) | $12,610 | 76.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Dyson Sharp (ESS) | $6,970 | 52.1 | 7.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $14,760 | 94 | 6.4 |
| Value | Harrison Jones (ESS) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Sam Durham (ESS) | $13,530 | 83.4 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Bailey Laurie (MELB) | $7,820 | 57.8 | 7.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,740 | 112.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Nick Bryan (ESS) | $9,450 | 65.4 | 6.9 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Demons vs Bombers Round 14 teams, consider starting with a value player like Harrison Jones. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zach Merrett is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Joel Fitzgerald.
On the other hand, according to our model, Elijah Tsatas is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Demons vs Bombers slate closes at 1:15pm 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 Demons vs Bombers Round 14 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Demons vs Bombers 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 Melbourne vs Essendon 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.
