AFL Magpies vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Jul 29, 2026, 9:38PM | Published: Jul 29, 2026, 9:37AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Magpies vs Cats Round 21 DFS contest begins at 7:30pm AEST on July 30, 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 and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 21.
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 best 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Collingwood vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you find the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $16,690 | 120.9 | 7.2 |
| Value | Angus Anderson (COLL, FWD/MID) | $7,360 | 59.3 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL, DEF) | $12,560 | 77.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Harvey Harrison (COLL, FWD) | $6,230 | 48.9 | 7.9 |
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 refer to 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 | Josh Daicos (COLL) | $13,940 | 100 | 7.2 |
| Value | Billy Frampton (COLL) | $6,280 | 48 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $12,560 | 77.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Mark O'Connor (GEEL) | $8,070 | 60.1 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $16,690 | 120.9 | 7.2 |
| Value | Angus Anderson (COLL) | $7,360 | 59.3 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Jordan De Goey (COLL) | $14,450 | 90.1 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,100 | 61.7 | 7.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $12,190 | 86.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Angus Anderson (COLL) | $7,360 | 59.3 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Shaun Mannagh (GEEL) | $11,170 | 77.6 | 6.9 |
| Cheapie | Harvey Harrison (COLL) | $6,230 | 48.9 | 7.9 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $14,100 | 90.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Mark Blicavs (GEEL) | $8,100 | 61.7 | 7.6 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Magpies vs Cats Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Angus Anderson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Harvey Harrison.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tom Stewart is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Magpies vs Cats slate closes at 7:30pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Magpies vs Cats Round 21 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 Magpies vs Cats 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 Collingwood vs Geelong Cats 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.
