AFL Demons vs Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 12, 2026, 4:39AM | Published: Jul 8, 2026, 9:45AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Tigers Round 18 DFS contest commences at 3:15pm AEST on July 12, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 18.
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 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 Richmond match-up to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $16,730 | 110.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Zane Peucker (RICH, MID/FWD) | $6,000 | 51.6 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB, MID) | $10,720 | 60.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Hugo Ralphsmith (RICH, MID) | $6,960 | 52.6 | 7.6 |
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) | $14,300 | 87.8 | 6.1 |
| Value | Sam Banks (RICH) | $9,690 | 71.5 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Changkuoth Jiath (MELB) | $10,210 | 63.2 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Sam Grlj (RICH) | $7,760 | 55.6 | 7.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $15,410 | 95.7 | 6.2 |
| Value | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 51.6 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $10,720 | 60.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Hugo Ralphsmith (RICH) | $6,960 | 52.6 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $15,410 | 95.7 | 6.2 |
| Value | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 51.6 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Jacob van Rooyen (MELB) | $10,360 | 62.3 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Mykelti Lefau (RICH) | $6,000 | 45.6 | 7.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,730 | 110.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Noah Balta (RICH) | $9,170 | 64.8 | 7.1 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Demons vs Tigers Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Zane Peucker. 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 Hugo Ralphsmith.
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 Tigers slate closes at 3:15pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Tigers Round 18 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 Tigers 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 Richmond 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.
