AFL Magpies vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2025
Last updated: Aug 1, 2025, 8:33AM | Published: Jul 30, 2025, 9:36AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Magpies vs Lions Round 21 DFS contest kicks off at 7:35pm AEST on August 2, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial 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 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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've reviewed players from each team in the Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions match-up to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $16,750 | 113.6 | 6.8 |
| Value | Henry Smith (BL, RK) | $6,000 | 59.1 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Dayne Zorko (BL, DEF) | $15,630 | 88.8 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Sam Marshall (BL, MID) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
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 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) | $14,740 | 97.2 | 6.6 |
| Value | Darcy Gardiner (BL) | $6,000 | 53.3 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $15,630 | 88.8 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Charlie Dean (COLL) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $16,750 | 113.6 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam Marshall (BL) | $6,000 | 56.1 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Jack Crisp (COLL) | $12,810 | 79.2 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Will Hoskin-Elliott (COLL) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zac Bailey (BL) | $11,980 | 77.2 | 6.4 |
| Value | Will Hoskin-Elliott (COLL) | $6,000 | 55.2 | 9.2 |
| Fade | Levi Ashcroft (BL) | $10,520 | 64.9 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Bruce Reville (BL) | $6,000 | 51.2 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $14,990 | 98.2 | 6.6 |
| Value | Henry Smith (BL) | $6,000 | 59.1 | 9.8 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Magpies vs Lions Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Henry Smith. 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 Sam Marshall.
On the other hand, according to our model, Dayne Zorko 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 Lions slate closes at 7:35pm AEST 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 Lions Round 21 contest. 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 Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
