AFL Demons vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2026
Last updated: Jul 24, 2026, 8:44AM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 9:51AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Cats Round 20 DFS contest starts at 7:40pm AEST on July 24, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 20.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best 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 Melbourne vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,120 | 120.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Jhye Clark (GEEL, FWD) | $6,530 | 58.6 | 9 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB, MID) | $10,230 | 65.1 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Lukas Cooke (MELB, DEF) | $6,000 | 45.9 | 7.7 |
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 | Jake Bowey (MELB) | $13,590 | 93.2 | 6.9 |
| Value | Lukas Cooke (MELB) | $6,000 | 45.9 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $11,910 | 77.3 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $6,470 | 48.8 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,120 | 120.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,330 | 61.7 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $10,230 | 65.1 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $9,760 | 65.3 | 6.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $13,530 | 95.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Jhye Clark (GEEL) | $6,530 | 58.6 | 9 |
| Fade | Jacob van Rooyen (MELB) | $10,450 | 67.8 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $6,470 | 48.8 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $15,460 | 108.4 | 7 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,330 | 61.7 | 7.4 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Demons vs Cats Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jhye Clark. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Lukas Cooke.
On the other hand, according to our model, Joel Fitzgerald 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 Demons vs Cats slate closes at 7:40pm AEST on Friday. 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 Cats Round 20 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 Demons vs Cats 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 Geelong Cats 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.
