AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 19, 2026, 11:04AM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Round 24 DFS contest begins at 7:30pm AEST on August 20, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 24.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate includes the following match-ups:
- Geelong Cats vs Richmond
- Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne
- St Kilda vs Gold Coast SUNS
- Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions
- West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn
- Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
- Essendon vs Port Adelaide
- Carlton vs Fremantle
- Adelaide Crows vs GWS GIANTS
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs 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 selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, FWD/RK) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Noah Mraz (HAW, DEF) | $10,280 | 55.5 | 5.4 |
| Cheapie | Deven Robertson (WCE, MID) | $6,000 | 60.4 | 10.1 |
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) | $15,670 | 106.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Noah Mraz (HAW) | $10,280 | 55.5 | 5.4 |
| 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 | Deven Robertson (WCE) | $6,000 | 60.4 | 10.1 |
| Fade | Miles Bergman (PORT) | $13,850 | 81.3 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Henry Hustwaite (HAW) | $6,000 | 59 | 9.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $15,470 | 99 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $11,190 | 67.3 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 58 | 9.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Vigo Visentini (ESS) | $11,320 | 64 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,370 | 59.2 | 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 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Campbell. 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, check out our cheapie options, including Deven Robertson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Noah Mraz is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together 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 slate. 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.
