AFL Demons vs Dockers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2026
Last updated: Aug 7, 2026, 10:56PM | Published: Aug 5, 2026, 9:51AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Dockers Round 22 DFS contest kicks off at 1:15pm AEST on August 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 22.
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 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 Fremantle match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $15,950 | 108.8 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB, DEF) | $10,080 | 85.4 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB, MID) | $10,760 | 67.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Bailey Laurie (MELB, FWD) | $6,740 | 55 | 8.2 |
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 | Jake Bowey (MELB) | $13,640 | 92.3 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $10,080 | 85.4 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Karl Worner (FRE) | $11,650 | 75.4 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Turner (MELB) | $8,410 | 66.5 | 7.9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Andrew Brayshaw (FRE) | $14,870 | 98.6 | 6.6 |
| Value | Ed Langdon (MELB) | $10,870 | 80.5 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $10,760 | 67.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Harvey Langford (MELB) | $9,470 | 64.3 | 6.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $13,520 | 92.9 | 6.9 |
| Value | Bailey Laurie (MELB) | $6,740 | 55 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Murphy Reid (FRE) | $12,470 | 81.2 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Jye Amiss (FRE) | $8,360 | 62.3 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $15,950 | 108.8 | 6.8 |
| Value | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,880 | 48.7 | 7.1 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Demons vs Dockers Round 22 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, take a look at our cheapie options, including Bailey Laurie.
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 entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Demons vs Dockers 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 Dockers Round 22 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 Dockers 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 Fremantle 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.
