AFL Kangaroos vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2025
Last updated: May 11, 2025, 6:32AM | Published: May 7, 2025, 9:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Kangaroos vs Lions Round 9 DFS contest commences at 4:40pm AEST on May 11, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make 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 and improve your Supercoach team for Round 9.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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've reviewed players from each team in the North Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tristan Xerri (NMFC, RK) | $16,590 | 107.2 | 6.5 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC, FWD/RK) | $6,000 | 54.2 | 9 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL, FWD/MID) | $10,410 | 60.3 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Finnbar Maley (NMFC, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 53.1 | 8.8 |
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 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 | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $16,150 | 106.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Riley Hardeman (NMFC) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL) | $11,560 | 72.7 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Toby Pink (NMFC) | $6,000 | 44.6 | 7.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $16,150 | 106.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Dylan Stephens (NMFC) | $8,540 | 61 | 7.1 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL) | $10,410 | 60.3 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Colby McKercher (NMFC) | $9,940 | 63.1 | 6.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Levi Ashcroft (BL) | $12,210 | 75.6 | 6.2 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC) | $6,000 | 54.2 | 9 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL) | $10,410 | 60.3 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Finnbar Maley (NMFC) | $6,000 | 53.1 | 8.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tristan Xerri (NMFC) | $16,590 | 107.2 | 6.5 |
| Value | Jack Darling (NMFC) | $6,000 | 54.2 | 9 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Kangaroos vs Lions Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Darling. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Tristan Xerri 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 Finnbar Maley.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cam Rayner is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Kangaroos vs Lions slate closes at 4:40pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Lions Round 9 slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Kangaroos vs Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
