AFL Power vs Bulldogs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 8, 2026, 9:35AM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Power vs Bulldogs Round 9 DFS contest begins at 8:10pm AEST on May 8, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 9.
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 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs match-up to help you find the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zak Butters (PORT, MID) | $16,800 | 110.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Lachlan Smith (WB, RK) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB, MID) | $12,790 | 77.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Dante Visentini (PORT, RK) | $6,990 | 55.9 | 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 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 | Bailey Dale (WB) | $14,190 | 92.1 | 6.5 |
| Value | Lachie Jones (PORT) | $6,000 | 45.8 | 7.6 |
| Fade | Bailey Williams (WB) | $13,200 | 82.6 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Michael Sellwood (WB) | $6,780 | 50.8 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zak Butters (PORT) | $16,800 | 110.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Harvey Gallagher (WB) | $6,000 | 47.9 | 8 |
| Fade | Ryley Sanders (WB) | $12,790 | 77.7 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Jack Watkins (PORT) | $7,430 | 58.2 | 7.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jason Horne-Francis (PORT) | $13,870 | 92.5 | 6.7 |
| Value | Lachlan McNeil (WB) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Mitch Georgiades (PORT) | $10,980 | 72.1 | 6.6 |
| Cheapie | Cooper Hynes (WB) | $6,260 | 46.8 | 7.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tim English (WB) | $15,550 | 103.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Lachlan Smith (WB) | $6,000 | 49.5 | 8.3 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Power vs Bulldogs Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Lachlan Smith. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zak Butters 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 Dante Visentini.
On the other hand, according to our model, Ryley Sanders is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Power vs Bulldogs slate closes at 8:10pm AEST 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 Power vs Bulldogs Round 9 slate. 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 Power vs Bulldogs 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 Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs 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.
