AFL Magpies vs Crows Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 11, 2026, 10:33AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Magpies vs Crows Round 1 DFS contest begins at 7:35pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
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 Adelaide Crows match-up to help you find the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $17,080 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL, FWD/MID) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL, MID) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Luke Pedlar (ADEL, FWD) | $6,290 | 53.9 | 8.6 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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) | $15,530 | 104.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Mitchell Hinge (ADEL) | $8,780 | 73.8 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Josh Worrell (ADEL) | $12,800 | 75 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Charlie Edwards (ADEL) | $6,000 | 49.2 | 8.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $17,080 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Angus Anderson (COLL) | $6,000 | 50.3 | 8.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Scott Pendlebury (COLL) | $11,990 | 86.9 | 7.3 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Callum Ah Chee (ADEL) | $10,840 | 65 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Luke Pedlar (ADEL) | $6,290 | 53.9 | 8.6 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $15,350 | 102.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Finnbar Maley (ADEL) | $6,000 | 49 | 8.2 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Magpies vs Crows Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sid Draper. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nick Daicos is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Luke Pedlar.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daniel Curtin is one of the lowest 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 Crows 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 Magpies vs Crows Round 1 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 Crows 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 Adelaide Crows 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.
