AFL Saturday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 12, 2026, 4:38AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saturday Round 1 DFS contest starts at 1:15pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Saturday slate includes the following games:
- Geelong Cats vs Fremantle
- Western Bulldogs vs GWS GIANTS
- Collingwood vs Adelaide Crows
- Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 every player from every team to help you make the best choices on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $17,080 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | George Stevens (GEEL, MID) | $6,230 | 61.9 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL, MID) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Sid Draper (ADEL, MID/FWD) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
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 | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | $15,290 | 110.5 | 7.2 |
| Value | Jake Kolodjashnij (GEEL) | $6,000 | 52.9 | 8.8 |
| Fade | Josh Worrell (ADEL) | $12,800 | 75 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Mitchell Hinge (ADEL) | $8,780 | 73.8 | 8.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $17,080 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | George Stevens (GEEL) | $6,230 | 61.9 | 9.9 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $13,990 | 94.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $12,650 | 75.9 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Adam Sweid (FRE) | $6,000 | 51.1 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,220 | 113.4 | 7 |
| Value | Finnbar Maley (ADEL) | $6,000 | 49 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Luke Jackson (FRE) | $15,130 | 86.7 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Lachlan Smith (WB) | $6,000 | 47.9 | 8 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Saturday Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like George Stevens. 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 Sid Draper.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daniel Curtin is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Saturday slate closes at 1:15pm AEDT 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 Saturday Round 1 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 Saturday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
