AFL Swans vs Cats Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2025
Last updated: Aug 15, 2025, 6:33PM | Published: Aug 13, 2025, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Cats Round 23 DFS contest starts at 3:15pm AEST on August 17, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 23.
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 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Sydney Swans vs Geelong Cats match-up to help you make the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL, MID) | $17,230 | 110.6 | 6.4 |
| Value | Jesse Dattoli (SYD, FWD) | $6,000 | 50.8 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Peter Ladhams (SYD, RK) | $10,640 | 52.9 | 5 |
| Cheapie | Jack Buller (SYD, FWD) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
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 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 | Nick Blakey (SYD) | $13,150 | 85.6 | 6.5 |
| Value | Lewis Melican (SYD) | $6,000 | 49.1 | 8.2 |
| Fade | Tom Stewart (GEEL) | $12,580 | 78.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Dane Rampe (SYD) | $7,880 | 58.7 | 7.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Bailey Smith (GEEL) | $17,230 | 110.6 | 6.4 |
| Value | Jack Bowes (GEEL) | $10,000 | 72.5 | 7.3 |
| Fade | Isaac Heeney (SYD) | $15,540 | 99.4 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Oliver Florent (SYD) | $9,220 | 62.7 | 6.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gryan Miers (GEEL) | $14,620 | 97.2 | 6.6 |
| Value | Jesse Dattoli (SYD) | $6,000 | 50.8 | 8.5 |
| Fade | James Rowbottom (SYD) | $10,900 | 74.3 | 6.8 |
| Cheapie | Jack Buller (SYD) | $6,000 | 51 | 8.5 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shannon Neale (GEEL) | $10,240 | 77.3 | 7.5 |
| Value | Rhys Stanley (GEEL) | $9,080 | 68.8 | 7.6 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Swans vs Cats Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jesse Dattoli. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Bailey Smith 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 Jack Buller.
On the other hand, according to our model, Peter Ladhams is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Swans vs Cats 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 Swans vs Cats Round 23 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 Swans vs Cats 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 Geelong Cats 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.
