AFL Demons vs Bulldogs 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 Demons vs Bulldogs Round 24 DFS contest begins at 4:15pm AEST on August 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 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've reviewed players from each team in the Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB, RK) | $10,450 | 63.5 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Christian Salem (MELB, DEF/FWD) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
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'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 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 | Jack Henderson (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.8 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,430 | 73 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,430 | 73 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
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 Demons vs Bulldogs Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Campbell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Max Gawn 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 Christian Salem.
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 putting together 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 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 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.
