AFL Kangaroos vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2026
Last updated: Aug 15, 2026, 5:36AM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Kangaroos vs Cats Round 23 DFS contest kicks off at 3:45pm AEST on August 15, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 23.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 players from each team in the North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC, MID) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Aidan Corr (NMFC, DEF) | $6,000 | 49.3 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Jhye Clark (GEEL, DEF) | $10,840 | 64.8 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Paul Curtis (NMFC, FWD) | $9,770 | 74.3 | 7.6 |
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'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 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 | Luke Parker (NMFC) | $13,760 | 95 | 6.9 |
| Value | Aidan Corr (NMFC) | $6,000 | 49.3 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Jhye Clark (GEEL) | $10,840 | 64.8 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Griffin Logue (NMFC) | $6,000 | 45 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Value | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $15,980 | 121.8 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Oliver Dempsey (GEEL) | $12,510 | 77.7 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Tom Blamires (NMFC) | $8,550 | 64 | 7.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $11,240 | 78.5 | 7 |
| Value | Paul Curtis (NMFC) | $9,770 | 74.3 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $10,840 | 67.4 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Jack Darling (NMFC) | $8,380 | 61.9 | 7.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tristan Xerri (NMFC) | $15,270 | 95.1 | 6.2 |
| Value | Cooper Trembath (NMFC) | $8,430 | 60.8 | 7.2 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Kangaroos vs Cats Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Aidan Corr. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Harry Sheezel is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Paul Curtis.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jhye Clark 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 Kangaroos vs Cats slate closes at 3:45pm 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 Kangaroos vs Cats Round 23 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 Kangaroos vs Cats 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 North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats 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.
