AFL Giants vs Bombers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 9, 2026, 5:34AM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Giants vs Bombers Round 9 DFS contest kicks off at 4:15pm AEST on May 9, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 9.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
With the best 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 players from each team in the GWS GIANTS vs Essendon match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachie Whitfield (GWS, DEF) | $16,700 | 109.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Nik Cox (ESS, FWD) | $6,000 | 49 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Peter Wright (ESS, RK) | $12,410 | 72.9 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Kieren Briggs (GWS, RK) | $9,140 | 73.2 | 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 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 | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | $16,700 | 109.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Lachlan Blakiston (ESS) | $6,000 | 47.2 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Archie Roberts (ESS) | $15,880 | 102.9 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Jack Buckley (GWS) | $6,370 | 49 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $15,780 | 108.4 | 6.9 |
| Value | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS) | $6,000 | 47.2 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Harvey Thomas (GWS) | $11,060 | 69.7 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $9,850 | 71 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Greene (GWS) | $13,560 | 87.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Nik Cox (ESS) | $6,000 | 49 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Aaron Cadman (GWS) | $10,270 | 65.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS) | $6,000 | 47.2 | 7.9 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kieren Briggs (GWS) | $9,140 | 73.2 | 8 |
| Value | Kieren Briggs (GWS) | $9,140 | 73.2 | 8 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Giants vs Bombers Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Nik Cox. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Lachie Whitfield 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 Kieren Briggs.
On the other hand, according to our model, Peter Wright is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Giants vs Bombers slate closes at 4:15pm AEST on Saturday. 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 Giants vs Bombers Round 9 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Giants vs Bombers line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full GWS GIANTS vs Essendon prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
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.
