AFL Swans vs Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 12, 2026
Last updated: May 27, 2026, 11:37AM | Published: May 27, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Swans vs Tigers Round 12 DFS contest kicks off at 1:15pm AEST on May 30, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 12.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the most accurate 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 Richmond match-up to help you make the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD, RK) | $17,850 | 111.5 | 6.2 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH, MID) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Patrick Retschko (RICH, MID) | $10,560 | 63.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Noah Roberts-Thomson (RICH, FWD) | $6,000 | 50.7 | 8.5 |
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 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 | Jayden Short (RICH) | $14,920 | 98.1 | 6.6 |
| Value | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,170 | 51.7 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Tom McCartin (SYD) | $11,300 | 68.2 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Nick Vlastuin (RICH) | $9,430 | 68.9 | 7.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Errol Gulden (SYD) | $15,820 | 105.3 | 6.7 |
| Value | Josh Smillie (RICH) | $6,000 | 51.3 | 8.6 |
| Fade | Patrick Retschko (RICH) | $10,560 | 63.4 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 48.7 | 8.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Chad Warner (SYD) | $13,010 | 83.8 | 6.4 |
| Value | Noah Roberts-Thomson (RICH) | $6,000 | 50.7 | 8.5 |
| Fade | Seth Campbell (RICH) | $10,170 | 62.6 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 48.7 | 8.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brodie Grundy (SYD) | $17,850 | 111.5 | 6.2 |
| Value | Peter Ladhams (SYD) | $7,610 | 58.1 | 7.6 |
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 Tigers Round 12 teams, consider starting with a value player like Josh Smillie. 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 Noah Roberts-Thomson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Patrick Retschko is one of the lowest 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 Tigers slate closes at 1:15pm AEST 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 Tigers Round 12 slate. 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 Tigers 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 Richmond 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.
