AFL Hawks vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 5, 2026
Last updated: Apr 11, 2026, 9:33AM | Published: Apr 8, 2026, 9:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Hawks vs Bulldogs Round 5 DFS contest kicks off at 7:35pm AEST on April 11, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 5.
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 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs match-up to help you make the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $17,820 | 116.9 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tom Barrass (HAW, DEF) | $6,000 | 47.5 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB, MID) | $11,890 | 70 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Michael Sellwood (WB, DEF) | $6,000 | 45.2 | 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'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 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 | James Sicily (HAW) | $12,550 | 89.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Tom Barrass (HAW) | $6,000 | 47.5 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Connor Budarick (WB) | $10,980 | 72.7 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Michael Sellwood (WB) | $6,000 | 45.2 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $17,820 | 116.9 | 6.6 |
| Value | Josh Weddle (HAW) | $9,450 | 70.6 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB) | $11,890 | 70 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Sam Davidson (WB) | $7,170 | 53.3 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Dylan Moore (HAW) | $12,240 | 87.2 | 7.1 |
| Value | Cooper Hynes (WB) | $6,000 | 44 | 7.3 |
| Fade | Jack Ginnivan (HAW) | $12,040 | 81.2 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Josh Dolan (WB) | $6,000 | 44.1 | 7.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Darcy (WB) | $11,710 | 82.7 | 7.1 |
| Value | Ned Reeves (HAW) | $9,310 | 67.6 | 7.3 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Hawks vs Bulldogs Round 5 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Barrass. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Marcus Bontempelli 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 Michael Sellwood.
On the other hand, according to our model, Ryley Sanders is one of the lowest 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 Hawks vs Bulldogs slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Bulldogs Round 5 slate. 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 Bulldogs 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 Western Bulldogs 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.
