AFL Lions vs Crows Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Preliminary Finals, 2026
Last updated: Sep 12, 2026, 9:13AM | Published: Sep 9, 2026, 11:43AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Lions vs Crows Preliminary Finals, 2026 DFS contest kicks off at 7:35pm AEST on September 12, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together 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 produce some of the strongest 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 Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL, MID) | $16,070 | 112.6 | 7 |
| Value | Darcy Fort (BL, RK) | $7,080 | 57.9 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL, MID) | $10,460 | 66.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Taylor Walker (ADEL, FWD) | $7,800 | 60.9 | 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) | $15,200 | 104 | 6.8 |
| Value | Ryan Lester (BL) | $8,810 | 66.5 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Jaspa Fletcher (BL) | $10,970 | 72.4 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | James Borlase (ADEL) | $6,000 | 44.1 | 7.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL) | $16,070 | 112.6 | 7 |
| Value | Hugh McCluggage (BL) | $11,230 | 83 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL) | $10,460 | 66.6 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Jake Soligo (ADEL) | $9,900 | 72.4 | 7.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $13,600 | 95.8 | 7 |
| Value | Taylor Walker (ADEL) | $7,800 | 60.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $10,810 | 69.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Zac Taylor (ADEL) | $6,870 | 52.1 | 7.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachlan McAndrew (ADEL) | $12,340 | 83.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Darcy Fort (BL) | $7,080 | 57.9 | 8.2 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Lions vs Crows Preliminary Finals, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Darcy Fort. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jordan Dawson is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Taylor Walker.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daniel Curtin 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 Lions vs Crows slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Lions vs Crows Preliminary Finals contest. 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 Lions vs Crows 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.
