AFL Demons vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 22, 2026, 5:41AM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Bulldogs Round 24 DFS contest starts at 4:15pm AEST on August 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build 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 deliver some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
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've reviewed players from each team in the Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB, FWD/DEF) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB, RK) | $10,450 | 63.5 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB, DEF/MID) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
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 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 | Bailey Dale (WB) | $14,780 | 101.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Lachlan Bramble (WB) | $10,040 | 65.5 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $14,770 | 106.6 | 7.2 |
| Value | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,430 | 73 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Ed Langdon (MELB) | $9,560 | 73.3 | 7.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,430 | 73 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Josh Dolan (WB) | $6,000 | 46.7 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Demons vs Bulldogs Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Christian Salem. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Max Gawn 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 Lachlan Carmichael.
On the other hand, according to our model, Rory Lobb is one of the worst 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 Demons vs Bulldogs slate closes at 4:15pm 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 Bulldogs 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 Demons vs Bulldogs 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 Western Bulldogs 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.
