AFL Saturday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 24, 2026
Last updated: Aug 19, 2026, 11:38AM | Published: Aug 19, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saturday Round 24 DFS contest begins at 1:15pm AEST on August 22, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 24.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Saturday slate includes the following matches:
- Geelong Cats vs Richmond
- Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
- Adelaide Crows vs GWS GIANTS
- Carlton vs Fremantle
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 accurate 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 every player from every team to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS, FWD/MID) | $11,190 | 67.3 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Jack Ough (GWS, MID) | $6,000 | 56.6 | 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 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) | $15,820 | 105.5 | 6.7 |
| Value | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Tanner Bruhn (GEEL) | $13,810 | 86.3 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,130 | 55.3 | 9 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $18,390 | 121.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jack Ough (GWS) | $6,000 | 56.6 | 9.4 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $11,190 | 67.3 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Adam Sweid (FRE) | $6,000 | 55.9 | 9.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Greene (GWS) | $12,690 | 90 | 7.1 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | $11,190 | 67.3 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Christian Salem (MELB) | $8,520 | 79.5 | 9.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,810 | 107.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 63 | 10.5 |
| Fade | Rory Lobb (WB) | $10,450 | 63.5 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,370 | 59.2 | 9.3 |
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 Saturday Round 24 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Campbell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Jack Ough.
On the other hand, according to our model, Stephen Coniglio is one of the worst 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 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 Saturday Round 24 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 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.
