AFL Swans vs Demons Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: May 1, 2026, 7:38PM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:55AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Demons Round 8 DFS contest commences at 3:15pm AEST on May 3, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data 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 improve your Supercoach team for Round 8.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the most reliable 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've reviewed players from each team in the Sydney Swans vs Melbourne match-up to help you make the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD, RK) | $16,150 | 114.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Bailey Laurie (MELB, FWD) | $6,000 | 53.1 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Nick Blakey (SYD, DEF) | $14,090 | 85.8 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Max Heath (MELB, RK) | $6,770 | 55.5 | 8.2 |
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 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 | Callum Mills (SYD) | $14,010 | 89.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | Blake Howes (MELB) | $7,220 | 51.9 | 7.2 |
| Fade | Nick Blakey (SYD) | $14,090 | 85.8 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Sam Wicks (SYD) | $8,310 | 59.9 | 7.2 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaac Heeney (SYD) | $16,360 | 107.8 | 6.6 |
| Value | James Rowbottom (SYD) | $11,210 | 79.6 | 7.1 |
| Fade | Ed Langdon (MELB) | $12,010 | 74.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Caleb Windsor (MELB) | $9,810 | 68.7 | 7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $14,790 | 100.4 | 6.8 |
| Value | Bailey Laurie (MELB) | $6,000 | 53.1 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Chad Warner (SYD) | $13,870 | 90 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Billy Cootee (SYD) | $6,000 | 48.7 | 8.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,150 | 114.6 | 7.1 |
| Value | Max Heath (MELB) | $6,770 | 55.5 | 8.2 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Swans vs Demons Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Bailey Laurie. 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, explore our cheapie options, including Max Heath.
On the other hand, according to our model, Nick Blakey is one of the worst 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 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 Swans vs Demons Round 8 contest. 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 Swans 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 Sydney Swans 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.
