AFL Lions vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Opening Round 2026
Last updated: Mar 7, 2026, 8:33AM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:49AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Lions vs Bulldogs Opening Round DFS contest starts at 7:35pm AEDT on March 7, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 Opening Round.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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 Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs match-up to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB, MID) | $17,250 | 119.9 | 7 |
| Value | Michael Sellwood (WB, DEF) | $6,000 | 46.7 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB, FWD/MID) | $11,830 | 78 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Gardiner (BL, DEF) | $6,000 | 46.6 | 7.8 |
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'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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $14,760 | 104.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Michael Sellwood (WB) | $6,000 | 46.7 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL) | $12,430 | 83.8 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,000 | 46.6 | 7.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) | $17,250 | 119.9 | 7 |
| Value | Bruce Reville (BL) | $6,580 | 48.7 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,830 | 78 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Oskar Baker (WB) | $8,610 | 61.3 | 7.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $12,350 | 87.3 | 7.1 |
| Value | Oscar Allen (BL) | $7,570 | 56.6 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Joel Freijah (WB) | $11,830 | 78 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Cooper Hynes (WB) | $6,000 | 44.9 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $16,080 | 113.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Oscar Allen (BL) | $7,570 | 56.6 | 7.5 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Lions vs Bulldogs Opening Round teams, consider starting with a value player like Michael Sellwood. 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, check out our cheapie options, including Darcy Gardiner.
On the other hand, according to our model, Joel Freijah 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 Lions vs Bulldogs slate closes at 7:35pm AEDT 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 Lions vs Bulldogs Opening Round 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 Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
