AFL Suns vs Magpies Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2026
Last updated: Jul 4, 2026, 5:36AM | Published: Jul 1, 2026, 9:40AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Suns vs Magpies Round 17 DFS contest begins at 4:15pm AEST on July 4, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every 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 assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 17.
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 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 players from each team in the Gold Coast SUNS vs Collingwood match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL, MID) | $18,080 | 122.1 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam Swadling (COLL, MID) | $6,000 | 50.3 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Mac Andrew (GC, DEF) | $12,240 | 72.8 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Ben Jepson (GC, MID) | $6,110 | 48.7 | 8 |
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'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 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 | Josh Daicos (COLL) | $14,540 | 99.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Brayden Maynard (COLL) | $10,400 | 80.6 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Mac Andrew (GC) | $12,240 | 72.8 | 5.9 |
| Cheapie | Dylan Patterson (GC) | $6,000 | 45.1 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nick Daicos (COLL) | $18,080 | 122.1 | 6.8 |
| Value | Sam Swadling (COLL) | $6,000 | 50.3 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Jordan De Goey (COLL) | $14,030 | 90.4 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Ben Jepson (GC) | $6,110 | 48.7 | 8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Christian Petracca (GC) | $13,900 | 90.5 | 6.5 |
| Value | Harvey Harrison (COLL) | $6,000 | 45.9 | 7.7 |
| Fade | Lachie Schultz (COLL) | $10,580 | 76.5 | 7.2 |
| Cheapie | Beau McCreery (COLL) | $7,870 | 58 | 7.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Darcy Cameron (COLL) | $13,240 | 88.3 | 6.7 |
| Value | Ned Moyle (GC) | $9,120 | 67.9 | 7.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Suns vs Magpies Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Sam Swadling. 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 Ben Jepson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Mac Andrew is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Suns vs Magpies slate closes at 4:15pm 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 Suns vs Magpies Round 17 slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Suns vs Magpies 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 Collingwood 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.
