AFL Suns vs Demons Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 21, 2026
Last updated: Jul 29, 2026, 5:41PM | Published: Jul 29, 2026, 9:38AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Suns vs Demons Round 21 DFS contest starts at 3:15pm AEST on August 2, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy 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 enhance your Supercoach team for Round 21.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Gold Coast SUNS vs Melbourne match-up to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $15,840 | 108.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 65.4 | 10.9 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB, MID) | $10,760 | 65.1 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB, RK) | $6,380 | 60 | 9.4 |
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 | John Noble (GC) | $13,750 | 97.4 | 7.1 |
| Value | Caleb Graham (GC) | $6,000 | 47.7 | 8 |
| Fade | Mac Andrew (GC) | $11,370 | 73.6 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Tom McDonald (MELB) | $7,580 | 57.9 | 7.6 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Noah Anderson (GC) | $16,090 | 101.8 | 6.3 |
| Value | Jack Henderson (MELB) | $6,000 | 48.9 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Joel Fitzgerald (MELB) | $10,760 | 65.1 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Koby Coulson (GC) | $6,000 | 47.4 | 7.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $14,150 | 95.6 | 6.8 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 65.4 | 10.9 |
| Fade | Christian Petracca (GC) | $12,890 | 86.9 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Shane McAdam (MELB) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $15,840 | 108.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Tom Campbell (MELB) | $6,000 | 65.4 | 10.9 |
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 Suns vs Demons Round 21 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom Campbell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Max Gawn is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Max Heath.
On the other hand, according to our model, Joel Fitzgerald is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Suns vs Demons 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 Suns vs Demons Round 21 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 Suns vs Demons 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 Gold Coast SUNS vs Melbourne 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.
