AFL Friday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 6, 2026, 10:33AM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Friday Round 9 DFS contest begins at 7:30pm AEST on May 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 9.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Friday slate consists of these match-ups:
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs 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 have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dayne Zorko (BL, DEF) | $16,500 | 112.5 | 6.8 |
| Value | Will Lorenz (PORT, MID) | $6,000 | 59.2 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB, MID) | $12,790 | 77.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Annable (BL, MID) | $6,000 | 55.1 | 9.2 |
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'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 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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $16,500 | 112.5 | 6.8 |
| Value | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 49.2 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Bailey Williams (WB) | $13,200 | 82.6 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Todd Marshall (PORT) | $7,460 | 59.1 | 7.9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zak Butters (PORT) | $16,800 | 110.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Will Lorenz (PORT) | $6,000 | 59.2 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB) | $12,790 | 77.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Annable (BL) | $6,000 | 55.1 | 9.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jason Horne-Francis (PORT) | $13,870 | 92.5 | 6.7 |
| Value | James Tunstill (BL) | $6,000 | 49.6 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Zac Bailey (BL) | $14,290 | 91.9 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan McNeil (WB) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $15,550 | 103.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Liam Reidy (CARL) | $6,390 | 58.5 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Jordon Sweet (PORT) | $13,190 | 83.8 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Smith (WB) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Friday Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Will Lorenz. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Dayne Zorko is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Daniel Annable.
On the other hand, according to our model, Ryley Sanders is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Friday slate closes at 7:30pm 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 Friday Round 9 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Friday 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.
