AFL Magpies vs Giants Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 3, 2026
Last updated: Mar 27, 2026, 8:36AM | Published: Mar 25, 2026, 8:39AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Magpies vs Giants Round 3 DFS contest kicks off at 7:40pm AEDT on March 27, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 Round 3.
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 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 GWS GIANTS match-up to help you find the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $16,980 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | James Leake (GWS, MID) | $6,000 | 60.8 | 10.1 |
| Fade | Finn Callaghan (GWS, MID) | $15,560 | 100.8 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Tim Membrey (COLL, FWD) | $6,130 | 51.8 | 8.5 |
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 | Lachie Ash (GWS) | $16,090 | 109.8 | 6.8 |
| Value | Harry Himmelberg (GWS) | $10,300 | 79 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Dan Houston (COLL) | $13,830 | 92.7 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Moore (COLL) | $6,000 | 45.6 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $16,980 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | James Leake (GWS) | $6,000 | 60.8 | 10.1 |
| Fade | Finn Callaghan (GWS) | $15,560 | 100.8 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Patrick Lipinski (COLL) | $9,820 | 72.3 | 7.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Greene (GWS) | $13,480 | 88.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tim Membrey (COLL) | $6,130 | 51.8 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Jordan De Goey (COLL) | $10,250 | 71.1 | 6.9 |
| Cheapie | Max Gruzewski (GWS) | $6,000 | 44.7 | 7.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $14,420 | 100.6 | 7 |
| Value | Kieren Briggs (GWS) | $10,040 | 75.3 | 7.5 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Magpies vs Giants Round 3 teams, consider starting with a value player like James Leake. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nick Daicos 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 Tim Membrey.
On the other hand, according to our model, Finn Callaghan is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Magpies vs Giants slate closes at 7:40pm AEDT 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 Magpies vs Giants Round 3 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Magpies vs Giants 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 GWS GIANTS 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.
