AFL Dockers vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Preliminary Finals, 2026
Last updated: Sep 11, 2026, 9:09AM | Published: Sep 9, 2026, 11:42AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Dockers vs Cats Preliminary Finals, 2026 DFS contest starts at 8:10pm AEST on September 11, 2026, 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.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Fremantle vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you make the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,290 | 120.4 | 7 |
| Value | Jack Henry (GEEL, DEF) | $6,000 | 48 | 8 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL, FWD/MID) | $10,950 | 66 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Patrick Voss (FRE, FWD) | $7,410 | 59.2 | 8 |
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 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 | Max Holmes (GEEL) | $14,320 | 99 | 6.9 |
| Value | Jack Henry (GEEL) | $6,000 | 48 | 8 |
| Fade | Jordan Clark (FRE) | $13,100 | 85.3 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Mark O'Connor (GEEL) | $7,710 | 58.2 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,290 | 120.4 | 7 |
| Value | Matthew Johnson (FRE) | $9,270 | 68 | 7.3 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,950 | 66 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Neil Erasmus (FRE) | $9,280 | 68.2 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $13,300 | 82.7 | 6.2 |
| Value | Patrick Voss (FRE) | $7,410 | 59.2 | 8 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,950 | 66 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jeremy Cameron (GEEL) | $9,350 | 72.6 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luke Jackson (FRE) | $16,570 | 102.4 | 6.2 |
| Value | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $8,520 | 64.6 | 7.6 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Dockers vs Cats Preliminary Finals, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Henry. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Patrick Voss.
On the other hand, according to our model, Patrick Dangerfield is one of the worst 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 Dockers vs Cats slate closes at 8:10pm 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 Dockers vs Cats Preliminary Finals 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 Dockers vs Cats line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
