AFL Swans vs Blues Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Opening Round 2026
Last updated: Mar 5, 2026, 7:37AM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:49AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Blues Opening Round DFS contest begins at 7:30pm AEDT on March 5, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game 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 Opening Round.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver 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 Sydney Swans vs Carlton match-up to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD, RK) | $16,150 | 115.4 | 7.1 |
| Value | Liam Reidy (CARL, FWD/RK) | $7,230 | 58.2 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Elijah Hollands (CARL, FWD/MID) | $11,800 | 71.9 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Weitering (CARL, DEF) | $8,630 | 64.9 | 7.5 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | Callum Mills (SYD) | $14,130 | 96.6 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jacob Weitering (CARL) | $8,630 | 64.9 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Oliver Hollands (CARL) | $11,750 | 78.3 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Tom McCartin (SYD) | $6,360 | 47.8 | 7.5 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $16,470 | 111.3 | 6.8 |
| Value | Jake Lloyd (SYD) | $10,970 | 79.2 | 7.2 |
| Fade | Elijah Hollands (CARL) | $11,800 | 71.9 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Oliver Florent (CARL) | $9,830 | 70.5 | 7.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaac Heeney (SYD) | $15,510 | 104.5 | 6.7 |
| Value | Liam Reidy (CARL) | $7,230 | 58.2 | 8.1 |
| Fade | Elijah Hollands (CARL) | $11,800 | 71.9 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Malcolm Rosas (SYD) | $6,250 | 45.6 | 7.3 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,150 | 115.4 | 7.1 |
| Value | Liam Reidy (CARL) | $7,230 | 58.2 | 8.1 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
When building your AFL Swans vs Blues Opening Round teams, consider starting with a value player like Liam Reidy. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Brodie Grundy 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 Jacob Weitering.
On the other hand, according to our model, Elijah Hollands is one of the lowest 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 Swans vs Blues slate closes at 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday. 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 Swans vs Blues Opening Round contest. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Swans vs Blues 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 Sydney Swans vs Carlton 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.
