AFL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Semi-Finals, 2026
Last updated: Sep 3, 2026, 10:39AM | Published: Sep 2, 2026, 10:13AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Semi-Finals, 2026 DFS contest kicks off at 8:10pm AEST on September 3, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Full Round slate includes these match-ups:
- Geelong Cats vs Carlton
- Adelaide Crows vs Western Bulldogs
- Fremantle vs Hawthorn
- Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
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 have 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 | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,760 | 121.7 | 6.9 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW, FWD) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL, FWD/MID) | $10,590 | 61 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Nathan O'Driscoll (FRE, MID) | $7,480 | 62.2 | 8.3 |
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 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) | $14,740 | 105.9 | 7.2 |
| Value | Josh Battle (HAW) | $9,930 | 79.9 | 8 |
| Fade | Jaspa Fletcher (BL) | $11,440 | 74.8 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Tom McCartin (SYD) | $8,800 | 71 | 8.1 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,760 | 121.7 | 6.9 |
| Value | Nathan O'Driscoll (FRE) | $7,480 | 62.2 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,590 | 61 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Matt Roberts (SYD) | $8,730 | 70.8 | 8.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $13,740 | 97.2 | 7.1 |
| Value | Max Beattie (HAW) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Patrick Dangerfield (GEEL) | $10,590 | 61 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Talor Byrne (CARL) | $6,000 | 50.1 | 8.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $15,160 | 101.3 | 6.7 |
| Value | Darcy Fort (BL) | $7,390 | 60 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $10,880 | 67.8 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Harry McKay (CARL) | $9,050 | 70.3 | 7.8 |
Conclusion
In AFL DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Semi-Finals, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Max Beattie. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Nathan O'Driscoll.
On the other hand, according to our model, Patrick Dangerfield 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 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 Semi-Finals 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.
