AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Grand Final, 2026
Last updated: Sep 18, 2026, 9:35AM | Published: Sep 16, 2026, 9:41AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Grand Final, 2026 DFS contest kicks off at 7:40pm AEST on September 18, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate includes the following matches:
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
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 every player from every team to help you make the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD, MID) | $17,400 | 116.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW, FWD) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Jake Lloyd (SYD, DEF) | $12,040 | 73.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Jack Gunston (HAW, FWD) | $9,020 | 72.1 | 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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,170 | 105.1 | 6.9 |
| Value | Ty Gallop (BL) | $6,100 | 48.1 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Jake Lloyd (SYD) | $12,040 | 73.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Tom McCartin (SYD) | $8,690 | 67.9 | 7.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $17,400 | 116.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Matthew Johnson (FRE) | $8,450 | 65.6 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Caleb Serong (FRE) | $14,700 | 92.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Matt Roberts (SYD) | $9,080 | 69.6 | 7.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $13,990 | 97.4 | 7 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL) | $10,740 | 71.2 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Jack Gunston (HAW) | $9,020 | 72.1 | 8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luke Jackson (FRE) | $15,470 | 104.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Darcy Fort (BL) | $7,470 | 56.9 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $12,200 | 76.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,050 | 45.4 | 7.5 |
Conclusion
In AFL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Grand Final, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Max Beattie. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Errol Gulden 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 Jack Gunston.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jake Lloyd is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate closes at 7:40pm 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 Grand Final slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Full Round 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.
