AFL Demons vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2025
Last updated: May 9, 2025, 3:33AM | Published: May 7, 2025, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Hawks Round 9 DFS contest begins at 1:20pm AEST on May 10, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 9.
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 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 Hawthorn match-up to help you make the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $16,900 | 111.7 | 6.6 |
| Value | Matthew Jefferson (MELB, FWD) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Kade Chandler (MELB, MID/FWD) | $11,290 | 69.2 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Harry Sharp (MELB, MID/FWD) | $6,000 | 49.9 | 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'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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | Christian Salem (MELB) | $13,140 | 85.8 | 6.5 |
| Value | Bailey Macdonald (HAW) | $6,000 | 49.4 | 8.2 |
| Fade | James Sicily (HAW) | $13,380 | 85.7 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Xavier Lindsay (MELB) | $8,980 | 65 | 7.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jai Newcombe (HAW) | $15,760 | 96.8 | 6.1 |
| Value | Harry Sharp (MELB) | $6,000 | 49.9 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Kade Chandler (MELB) | $11,290 | 69.2 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Koltyn Tholstrup (MELB) | $7,180 | 54.2 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Christian Petracca (MELB) | $15,190 | 96.3 | 6.3 |
| Value | Matthew Jefferson (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Kade Chandler (MELB) | $11,290 | 69.2 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Harry Sharp (MELB) | $6,000 | 49.9 | 8.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,900 | 111.7 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jacob van Rooyen (MELB) | $7,200 | 50.6 | 7 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Demons vs Hawks Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Matthew Jefferson. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Harry Sharp.
On the other hand, according to our model, Kade Chandler 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 Hawks slate closes at 1:20pm 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 Hawks Round 9 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 Hawks 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 Hawthorn 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.
