AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2026
Last updated: Aug 6, 2026, 8:54AM | Published: Aug 5, 2026, 9:52AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 22 DFS contest commences at 7:30pm AEST on August 6, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 22.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate consists of these match-ups:
- Brisbane Lions vs Hawthorn
- Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide
- Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne
- Adelaide Crows vs Richmond
- Geelong Cats vs Essendon
- GWS GIANTS vs Gold Coast SUNS
- St Kilda vs Carlton
- Melbourne vs Fremantle
- West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the most reliable 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've reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC, MID) | $18,400 | 122.6 | 6.7 |
| Value | Finlay Macrae (WCE, FWD/MID) | $6,000 | 58.8 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Marcus Herbert (WCE, DEF) | $14,000 | 71.8 | 5.1 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Annable (BL, MID) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,380 | 107.2 | 7 |
| Value | Jakob Ryan (COLL) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Marcus Herbert (WCE) | $14,000 | 71.8 | 5.1 |
| Cheapie | Eric Hipwood (BL) | $6,300 | 52 | 8.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $18,400 | 122.6 | 6.7 |
| Value | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 58.8 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Billy Dowling (ADEL) | $11,170 | 65 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Annable (BL) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $14,050 | 96.5 | 6.9 |
| Value | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 58.8 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Billy Dowling (ADEL) | $11,170 | 65 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Tom Gross (WCE) | $6,000 | 50.4 | 8.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $15,950 | 108.8 | 6.8 |
| Value | Vigo Visentini (ESS) | $6,000 | 52.7 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $11,990 | 70.7 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Samson Ryan (RICH) | $6,000 | 49.2 | 8.2 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In AFL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Round 22 teams, consider starting with a value player like Finlay Macrae. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Harry Sheezel is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Daniel Annable.
On the other hand, according to our model, Marcus Herbert 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 7:30pm 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 22 slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management 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.
