AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 14, 2026, 9:59AM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:37AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 23 DFS contest begins at 8:10pm AEST on August 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy 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 23.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate features these match-ups:
- Richmond vs St Kilda
- Hawthorn vs Collingwood
- Essendon vs Sydney Swans
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton
- Port Adelaide vs Melbourne
- GWS GIANTS vs West Coast Eagles
- Fremantle vs Adelaide Crows
- North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats
- Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast SUNS
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 make the best choices on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC, MID) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW, MID) | $6,000 | 53.4 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD, MID/FWD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Christian Salem (MELB, FWD/DEF) | $9,690 | 85.4 | 8.8 |
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'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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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) | $15,620 | 106.1 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $9,690 | 85.4 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Lachlan Bramble (WB) | $12,270 | 65.7 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW) | $6,000 | 53.4 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 51.8 | 8.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $15,820 | 97.4 | 6.2 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $9,690 | 85.4 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Tom Gross (WCE) | $6,000 | 52.6 | 8.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,720 | 106.4 | 6.4 |
| Value | Louis Emmett (WB) | $6,000 | 47.8 | 8 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB) | $11,720 | 62.3 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Fort (BL) | $7,670 | 60.1 | 7.8 |
Conclusion
In AFL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Max Beattie. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Christian Salem.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jesse Dattoli is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Full Round 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 Round 23 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.
