AFL Magpies vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 30, 2026, 8:33AM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:56AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Magpies vs Hawks Round 8 DFS contest commences at 7:30pm AEST on April 30, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 8.
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 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 Hawthorn match-up to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $17,240 | 119.6 | 6.9 |
| Value | Lloyd Meek (HAW, RK) | $9,950 | 83.1 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Jai Newcombe (HAW, MID) | $14,940 | 95.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Tom Barrass (HAW, DEF) | $6,000 | 47.9 | 8 |
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 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 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 | Josh Daicos (COLL) | $15,130 | 103.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Tom Barrass (HAW) | $6,000 | 47.9 | 8 |
| Fade | Josh Battle (HAW) | $11,370 | 78.1 | 6.9 |
| Cheapie | Darcy Moore (COLL) | $6,000 | 44.5 | 7.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $17,240 | 119.6 | 6.9 |
| Value | Steele Sidebottom (COLL) | $10,010 | 74.2 | 7.4 |
| Fade | Jai Newcombe (HAW) | $14,940 | 95.5 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Cam Mackenzie (HAW) | $9,610 | 68.7 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Connor Macdonald (HAW) | $12,220 | 88.2 | 7.2 |
| Value | Calsher Dear (HAW) | $6,450 | 49.9 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Jack Ginnivan (HAW) | $12,570 | 86.1 | 6.8 |
| Cheapie | Daniel McStay (COLL) | $7,310 | 56.1 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $12,130 | 90.8 | 7.5 |
| Value | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $9,950 | 83.1 | 8.4 |
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 Hawks Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Lloyd Meek. 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 Tom Barrass.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jai Newcombe is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Magpies vs Hawks 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 Hawks Round 8 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 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 Collingwood 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.
