AFL Tigers vs Crows Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 6, 2026, 10:34AM | Published: May 6, 2026, 9:35AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Tigers vs Crows Round 9 DFS contest starts at 3:15pm AEST on May 10, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential 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 9.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Richmond vs Adelaide Crows match-up to help you find the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL, MID) | $16,540 | 109.7 | 6.6 |
| Value | Reilly O'Brien (ADEL, RK) | $7,020 | 82.5 | 11.7 |
| Fade | Noah Balta (RICH, RK) | $10,680 | 62.2 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Mitchell Hinge (ADEL, DEF) | $7,470 | 69.4 | 9.3 |
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 | Jayden Short (RICH) | $14,250 | 94.6 | 6.6 |
| Value | Mitchell Hinge (ADEL) | $7,470 | 69.4 | 9.3 |
| Fade | Wayne Milera (ADEL) | $14,270 | 86.8 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Kaleb Smith (RICH) | $6,210 | 51.7 | 8.3 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL) | $16,540 | 109.7 | 6.6 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 54.7 | 9.1 |
| Fade | Kane McAuliffe (RICH) | $11,770 | 74.1 | 6.3 |
| Cheapie | Noah Roberts-Thomson (RICH) | $6,000 | 54.5 | 9.1 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Izak Rankine (ADEL) | $12,210 | 80.4 | 6.6 |
| Value | Sid Draper (ADEL) | $6,000 | 54.7 | 9.1 |
| Fade | Riley Thilthorpe (ADEL) | $12,430 | 74.5 | 6 |
| Cheapie | Zane Peucker (RICH) | $6,000 | 48.7 | 8.1 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Toby Nankervis (RICH) | $12,760 | 90.5 | 7.1 |
| Value | Reilly O'Brien (ADEL) | $7,020 | 82.5 | 11.7 |
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 Tigers vs Crows Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Reilly O'Brien. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jordan Dawson 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 Mitchell Hinge.
On the other hand, according to our model, Noah Balta 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 Tigers vs Crows 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 Tigers vs Crows Round 9 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 Tigers vs Crows 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 Richmond vs Adelaide Crows 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.
