AFL Saturday Late Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 11, 2026, 10:34AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Saturday Late Round 1 DFS contest begins at 7:10pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 enhance your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Saturday Late slate includes these match-ups:
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 best DFS projections in the world.
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 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 | Sid Draper (ADEL, FWD/MID) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL, MID) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Luke Pedlar (ADEL, FWD) | $6,290 | 53.9 | 8.6 |
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'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 budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight 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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $16,330 | 108.3 | 6.6 |
| Value | Mitchell Hinge (ADEL) | $8,780 | 73.8 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Josh Worrell (ADEL) | $12,800 | 75 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Charlie Edwards (ADEL) | $6,000 | 49.2 | 8.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $17,080 | 116.2 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL) | $12,270 | 64.3 | 5.2 |
| Cheapie | Billy Cootee (SYD) | $6,000 | 50.5 | 8.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $13,040 | 91.1 | 7 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 57.2 | 9.5 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $12,650 | 75.9 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Luke Pedlar (ADEL) | $6,290 | 53.9 | 8.6 |
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 | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $12,650 | 75.9 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Toby Murray (ADEL) | $6,000 | 47 | 7.8 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Saturday Late Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sid Draper. 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 Luke Pedlar.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daniel Curtin 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 Saturday Late slate closes at 7:10pm 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 Late Round 1 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 Saturday Late 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.
