AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 12, 2026, 4:35PM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:37AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 23 DFS contest commences at 8:10pm AEST on August 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 23.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate consists of these match-ups:
- GWS GIANTS vs West Coast Eagles
- North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats
- Richmond vs St Kilda
- Western Bulldogs vs Carlton
- Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast SUNS
- Hawthorn vs Collingwood
- Fremantle vs Adelaide Crows
- Essendon vs Sydney Swans
- Port Adelaide vs Melbourne
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC, MID) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, FWD/RK) | $6,000 | 64.1 | 10.7 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD, FWD/MID) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Deven Robertson (WCE, MID) | $6,000 | 61.4 | 10.2 |
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 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) | $15,620 | 106.1 | 6.8 |
| Value | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,140 | 55.5 | 9 |
| Fade | Noah Mraz (HAW) | $10,310 | 54.2 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Luke Beecken (BL) | $6,000 | 53.3 | 8.9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Deven Robertson (WCE) | $6,000 | 61.4 | 10.2 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Henry Hustwaite (HAW) | $6,000 | 59.2 | 9.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $15,820 | 97.4 | 6.2 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 64.1 | 10.7 |
| Fade | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $10,060 | 50.4 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 58.8 | 9.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,720 | 106.4 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 64.1 | 10.7 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB) | $11,720 | 62.3 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,390 | 59.4 | 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 23 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, Jesse Dattoli is one of the lowest 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 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 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 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.
