AFL Hawks vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Grand Final, 2026
Last updated: Sep 16, 2026, 7:49PM | Published: Sep 16, 2026, 9:41AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Hawks vs Lions Grand Final, 2026 DFS contest commences at 5:15pm AEST on September 19, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests.
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 best 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 Brisbane Lions match-up to help you find the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Will Ashcroft (BL, MID) | $16,280 | 111.5 | 6.9 |
| Value | Henry Hustwaite (HAW, MID) | $6,000 | 59.5 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Lloyd Meek (HAW, RK) | $12,200 | 76.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Finn Maginness (HAW, FWD/MID) | $6,120 | 57.4 | 9.4 |
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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,170 | 105.1 | 6.9 |
| Value | Luke Beecken (BL) | $6,000 | 52.4 | 8.7 |
| Fade | Jaspa Fletcher (BL) | $11,630 | 73.3 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Matthew LeRay (HAW) | $6,000 | 49.4 | 8.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Will Ashcroft (BL) | $16,280 | 111.5 | 6.9 |
| Value | Henry Hustwaite (HAW) | $6,000 | 59.5 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Josh Dunkley (BL) | $15,260 | 98.7 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Finn Maginness (HAW) | $6,120 | 57.4 | 9.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $13,990 | 97.4 | 7 |
| Value | Finn Maginness (HAW) | $6,120 | 57.4 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL) | $10,740 | 71.2 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Aidan Schubert (HAW) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $12,200 | 76.5 | 6.3 |
| Value | Henry Smith (BL) | $6,000 | 51.9 | 8.7 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Hawks vs Lions Grand Final, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Henry Hustwaite. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Will Ashcroft is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Finn Maginness.
On the other hand, according to our model, Lloyd Meek 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 Lions slate closes at 5:15pm 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 Lions Grand Final 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 Hawks vs Lions 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.
