AFL Sunday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 12, 2026
Last updated: May 27, 2026, 12:44PM | Published: May 27, 2026, 9:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Sunday Round 12 DFS contest commences at 3:15pm AEST on May 31, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 12.
Featured AFL Games
Draftstars' AFL Sunday slate consists of the following games:
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 have reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS, MID) | $16,890 | 112.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Deven Robertson (WCE, MID) | $6,000 | 67 | 11.2 |
| Fade | Sullivan Robey (ESS, MID/FWD) | $10,890 | 61.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Tom Campbell (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 66.8 | 11.1 |
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 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 | Archie Roberts (ESS) | $16,690 | 109.5 | 6.6 |
| Value | Sam Taylor (GWS) | $6,000 | 59.1 | 9.8 |
| Fade | Josh Lindsay (WCE) | $11,530 | 68.1 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | James Leake (GWS) | $6,210 | 54.4 | 8.8 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zach Merrett (ESS) | $16,890 | 112.4 | 6.7 |
| Value | Deven Robertson (WCE) | $6,000 | 67 | 11.2 |
| Fade | Sullivan Robey (ESS) | $10,890 | 61.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 59.8 | 10 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $12,630 | 94.4 | 7.5 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 66.8 | 11.1 |
| Fade | Sullivan Robey (ESS) | $10,890 | 61.4 | 5.6 |
| Cheapie | Finlay Macrae (WCE) | $6,000 | 59.8 | 10 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,880 | 109.2 | 6.5 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 66.8 | 11.1 |
| Fade | Bailey J. Williams (WCE) | $12,810 | 78.5 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,460 | 57.6 | 8.9 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Sunday Round 12 teams, consider starting with a value player like Deven Robertson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Zach Merrett 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 Tom Campbell.
On the other hand, according to our model, Sullivan Robey 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 Sunday slate closes at 3:15pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Sunday Round 12 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 Sunday 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.
