AFL Hawks vs Bombers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2026
Last updated: Jul 24, 2026, 7:48PM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 9:52AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Hawks vs Bombers Round 20 DFS contest starts at 4:15pm AEST on July 25, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy 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 20.
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Hawthorn vs Essendon match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, MID/DEF) | $16,700 | 107.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Bailey Macdonald (HAW, DEF) | $6,440 | 50.6 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Josh Battle (HAW, DEF) | $13,740 | 82 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Ridley (ESS, DEF) | $9,730 | 72.9 | 7.5 |
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 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 | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $16,700 | 107.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Bailey Macdonald (HAW) | $6,440 | 50.6 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Josh Battle (HAW) | $13,740 | 82 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jordan Ridley (ESS) | $9,730 | 72.9 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $16,700 | 107.3 | 6.4 |
| Value | Jack Ginnivan (HAW) | $11,870 | 85.2 | 7.2 |
| Fade | Josh Ward (HAW) | $13,620 | 84.1 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS) | $6,690 | 47.4 | 7.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Connor Macdonald (HAW) | $13,840 | 88.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Oliver Greeves (HAW) | $7,260 | 53.9 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Jack Gunston (HAW) | $12,200 | 74.9 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Archer Day-Wicks (ESS) | $6,690 | 47.4 | 7.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $12,380 | 78.7 | 6.4 |
| Value | Lachlan Blakiston (ESS) | $6,000 | 41.6 | 6.9 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Hawks vs Bombers Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Bailey Macdonald. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zach Merrett is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Jordan Ridley.
On the other hand, according to our model, Josh Battle is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Hawks 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 Hawks vs Bombers Round 20 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 Hawks 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 Hawthorn 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.
