AFL Saints vs Hawks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 12, 2026
Last updated: May 27, 2026, 1:40PM | Published: May 27, 2026, 9:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saints vs Hawks Round 12 DFS contest kicks off at 7:30pm AEST on May 28, 2026, 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 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 12.
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've reviewed players from each team in the St Kilda vs Hawthorn match-up to help you make the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jack Sinclair (STK, DEF) | $15,980 | 106.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Lloyd Meek (HAW, RK) | $8,800 | 75.8 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Hugo Garcia (STK, MID) | $13,360 | 81.1 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Liam Henry (STK, FWD) | $6,290 | 52 | 8.3 |
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 | Jack Sinclair (STK) | $15,980 | 106.9 | 6.7 |
| Value | Blake Hardwick (HAW) | $10,090 | 71.4 | 7.1 |
| Fade | Jarman Impey (HAW) | $14,310 | 91.2 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Jack Carroll (STK) | $8,810 | 62.5 | 7.1 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Sam Flanders (STK) | $15,390 | 99 | 6.4 |
| Value | Cameron Nairn (HAW) | $6,240 | 48.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Hugo Garcia (STK) | $13,360 | 81.1 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Mason Wood (STK) | $9,300 | 66.9 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bradley Hill (STK) | $11,980 | 83.1 | 6.9 |
| Value | Liam Henry (STK) | $6,290 | 52 | 8.3 |
| Fade | Dylan Moore (HAW) | $11,840 | 79.6 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Cameron Nairn (HAW) | $6,240 | 48.9 | 7.8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Rowan Marshall (STK) | $11,400 | 80.9 | 7.1 |
| Value | Lloyd Meek (HAW) | $8,800 | 75.8 | 8.6 |
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 Saints vs Hawks Round 12 teams, consider starting with a value player like Lloyd Meek. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jack Sinclair is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Liam Henry.
On the other hand, according to our model, Hugo Garcia is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Saints 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 Saints vs Hawks Round 12 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Saints 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 St Kilda 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.
