AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 20, 2026, 8:47AM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 24 DFS contest kicks off at 7:30pm AEST on August 20, 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 a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 24.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate features the following games:
- Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne
- Carlton vs Fremantle
- West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn
- Essendon vs Port Adelaide
- Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions
- Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
- St Kilda vs Gold Coast SUNS
- Adelaide Crows vs GWS GIANTS
- Geelong Cats vs Richmond
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 have reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB, DEF/FWD) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Vigo Visentini (ESS, RK) | $11,320 | 64 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Bailey Scott (NMFC, DEF/MID) | $6,080 | 55.9 | 9.2 |
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 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) | $15,670 | 106.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Miles Bergman (PORT) | $13,850 | 81.3 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Bailey Scott (NMFC) | $6,080 | 55.9 | 9.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Bailey Scott (NMFC) | $6,080 | 55.9 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Miles Bergman (PORT) | $13,850 | 81.3 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Carmichael (WB) | $6,000 | 49.8 | 8.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $14,660 | 97.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Charlie Curnow (SYD) | $11,820 | 71.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Tom Gross (WCE) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Jarrod Witts (GC) | $8,340 | 74.7 | 9 |
| Fade | Vigo Visentini (ESS) | $11,320 | 64 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Samson Ryan (RICH) | $6,150 | 48.9 | 8 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Christian Salem. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Bailey Scott.
On the other hand, according to our model, Vigo Visentini 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 7:30pm 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 24 contest. 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.
