AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 18, 2026
Last updated: Jul 8, 2026, 2:46PM | Published: Jul 8, 2026, 9:45AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 18 DFS contest kicks off at 8:10pm AEST on July 9, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate 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.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate includes the following matches:
- Melbourne vs Richmond
- Collingwood vs North Melbourne
- Fremantle vs Sydney Swans
- Brisbane Lions vs Essendon
- GWS GIANTS vs Geelong Cats
- St Kilda vs Port Adelaide
- Adelaide Crows vs Gold Coast SUNS
- Carlton vs Hawthorn
- Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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 Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC, MID) | $17,340 | 121.6 | 7 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 65.9 | 11 |
| Fade | Rowan Marshall (STK, RK) | $15,730 | 84.2 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Deven Robertson (WCE, MID) | $6,000 | 63.3 | 10.5 |
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 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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (STK) | $16,940 | 113.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Bailey Scott (NMFC) | $6,400 | 59.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Hugo Hall-Kahan (ADEL) | $10,580 | 60.8 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,150 | 55.5 | 9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $17,340 | 121.6 | 7 |
| Value | Deven Robertson (WCE) | $6,000 | 63.3 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $10,720 | 60.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 60.2 | 10 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jason Horne-Francis (PORT) | $14,660 | 96.3 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 65.9 | 11 |
| Fade | Logan Morris (BL) | $11,650 | 69.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 60.2 | 10 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,730 | 110.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 65.9 | 11 |
| Fade | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $15,730 | 84.2 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,450 | 60.1 | 9.3 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Round 18 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Campbell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Harry Sheezel 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 Deven Robertson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Rowan Marshall is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate closes at 8:10pm AEST on Thursday. 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 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 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.
