AFL Swans vs Lions Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 11, 2026, 10:33AM | Published: Mar 11, 2026, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Lions Round 1 DFS contest begins at 7:10pm AEDT on March 14, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
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've reviewed players from each team in the Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD, RK) | $16,220 | 113.4 | 7 |
| Value | Billy Cootee (SYD, MID) | $6,000 | 50.5 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Will Ashcroft (BL, MID) | $15,850 | 100.9 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Tom Papley (SYD, FWD) | $7,840 | 62.6 | 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 are 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 | Dayne Zorko (BL) | $16,330 | 108.3 | 6.6 |
| Value | Callum Mills (SYD) | $11,750 | 91.9 | 7.8 |
| Fade | Darcy Wilmot (BL) | $13,030 | 84.4 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | Dane Rampe (SYD) | $6,530 | 50.5 | 7.7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $15,990 | 111.8 | 7 |
| Value | Billy Cootee (SYD) | $6,000 | 50.5 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Will Ashcroft (BL) | $15,850 | 100.9 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | James Tunstill (BL) | $6,000 | 47.7 | 8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $13,040 | 91.1 | 7 |
| Value | Tom Papley (SYD) | $7,840 | 62.6 | 8 |
| Fade | Justin McInerney (SYD) | $12,980 | 84.9 | 6.5 |
| Cheapie | James Tunstill (BL) | $6,000 | 47.7 | 8 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $16,220 | 113.4 | 7 |
| Value | Sam Draper (BL) | $10,120 | 79 | 7.8 |
Please note that we will update our AFL Draftstars tips as soon as teams are officially announced.
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Swans vs Lions Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Billy Cootee. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Brodie Grundy 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 Tom Papley.
On the other hand, according to our model, Will Ashcroft is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Swans vs Lions slate closes at 7:10pm AEDT 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 Swans vs Lions Round 1 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 Lions 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 Brisbane Lions 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.
