AFL Swans vs Dockers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Grand Final, 2026
Last updated: Sep 18, 2026, 9:34AM | Published: Sep 16, 2026, 9:41AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Dockers Grand Final, 2026 DFS contest starts at 7:40pm AEST on September 18, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most reliable 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 Sydney Swans vs Fremantle match-up to help you make the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD, MID) | $17,400 | 116.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Tom McCartin (SYD, DEF) | $8,690 | 67.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Jake Lloyd (SYD, DEF) | $12,040 | 73.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Johnson (FRE, MID) | $8,450 | 65.6 | 7.8 |
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 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 | Jordan Clark (FRE) | $13,250 | 85.2 | 6.4 |
| Value | Tom McCartin (SYD) | $8,690 | 67.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Jake Lloyd (SYD) | $12,040 | 73.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Judd McVee (FRE) | $6,860 | 50.8 | 7.4 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $17,400 | 116.2 | 6.7 |
| Value | Matthew Johnson (FRE) | $8,450 | 65.6 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Caleb Serong (FRE) | $14,700 | 92.8 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Matt Roberts (SYD) | $9,080 | 69.6 | 7.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Murphy Reid (FRE) | $11,500 | 77.6 | 6.7 |
| Value | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,050 | 45.4 | 7.5 |
| Fade | Charlie Curnow (SYD) | $10,920 | 73 | 6.7 |
| Cheapie | Jye Amiss (FRE) | $7,730 | 57.1 | 7.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Luke Jackson (FRE) | $15,470 | 104.9 | 6.8 |
| Value | Mason Cox (FRE) | $6,050 | 45.4 | 7.5 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Swans vs Dockers Grand Final, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tom McCartin. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Errol Gulden is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Matthew Johnson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jake Lloyd is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Swans vs Dockers slate closes at 7:40pm AEST on Friday. 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 Dockers Grand Final 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 Swans vs Dockers line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
