AFL Lions vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2026
Last updated: Aug 7, 2026, 8:49AM | Published: Aug 5, 2026, 9:51AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Lions vs Hawks Round 22 DFS contest begins at 7:40pm AEST on August 7, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create 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 22.
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 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 Brisbane Lions vs Hawthorn match-up to help you make the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Will Ashcroft (BL, MID) | $15,930 | 111.2 | 7 |
| Value | Daniel Annable (BL, MID) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Cam Mackenzie (HAW, MID) | $12,560 | 76.3 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Eric Hipwood (BL, FWD/DEF) | $6,300 | 52 | 8.3 |
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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,380 | 107.2 | 7 |
| Value | Eric Hipwood (BL) | $6,300 | 52 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Karl Amon (HAW) | $13,420 | 85.7 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,270 | 48.4 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Will Ashcroft (BL) | $15,930 | 111.2 | 7 |
| Value | Daniel Annable (BL) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Cam Mackenzie (HAW) | $12,560 | 76.3 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Levi Ashcroft (BL) | $9,630 | 74.5 | 7.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $14,050 | 96.5 | 6.9 |
| Value | Eric Hipwood (BL) | $6,300 | 52 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Cam Rayner (BL) | $10,640 | 70.8 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Charlie Cameron (BL) | $8,030 | 62.1 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $12,300 | 78.5 | 6.4 |
| Value | Darcy Fort (BL) | $7,740 | 61.8 | 8 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Lions vs Hawks Round 22 teams, consider starting with a value player like Daniel Annable. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Will Ashcroft 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 Eric Hipwood.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cam Mackenzie 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 Lions vs Hawks slate closes at 7:40pm AEST on Friday. 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 Hawks Round 22 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 Hawks 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 Hawthorn 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.
