AFL Kangaroos vs Swans Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 6, 2026, 12:34PM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Kangaroos vs Swans Round 9 DFS contest begins at 1:15pm AEST on May 9, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 9.
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 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 have reviewed players from each team in the North Melbourne vs Sydney Swans match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD, RK) | $16,100 | 114.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Bailey Scott (NMFC, MID/DEF) | $6,450 | 70.8 | 11 |
| Fade | Nick Blakey (SYD, DEF) | $13,470 | 85.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Josh Goater (NMFC, DEF) | $6,000 | 53.5 | 8.9 |
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 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 | Luke Parker (NMFC) | $13,070 | 92.2 | 7.1 |
| Value | Bailey Scott (NMFC) | $6,450 | 70.8 | 11 |
| Fade | Nick Blakey (SYD) | $13,470 | 85.5 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Josh Goater (NMFC) | $6,000 | 53.5 | 8.9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Harry Sheezel (NMFC) | $16,330 | 112.6 | 6.9 |
| Value | Bailey Scott (NMFC) | $6,450 | 70.8 | 11 |
| Fade | Justin McInerney (SYD) | $14,060 | 89 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Caiden Cleary (SYD) | $6,210 | 51.2 | 8.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $13,680 | 89.2 | 6.5 |
| Value | Tom Powell (NMFC) | $8,490 | 74.6 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Tom Papley (SYD) | $10,020 | 71 | 7.1 |
| Cheapie | Caiden Cleary (SYD) | $6,210 | 51.2 | 8.2 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,100 | 114.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Callum Coleman-Jones (NMFC) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Kangaroos vs Swans Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Bailey Scott. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Brodie Grundy 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 Josh Goater.
On the other hand, according to our model, Nick Blakey is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Kangaroos vs Swans slate closes at 1:15pm 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 Kangaroos vs Swans Round 9 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 Swans 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 Sydney Swans 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.
