AFL Demons vs Giants Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2025
Last updated: Mar 12, 2025, 8:33AM | Published: Mar 12, 2025, 8:33AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Demons vs Giants Round 1 DFS contest starts at 3:20pm AEDT on March 16, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 1.
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 strongest DFS projections in the world.
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 Melbourne vs GWS GIANTS match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Lachie Whitfield (GWS, DEF) | $16,320 | 107.2 | 6.6 |
| Value | James Leake (GWS, MID) | $6,000 | 67.7 | 11.3 |
| Fade | Clayton Oliver (MELB, MID) | $14,640 | 77.2 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henderson (MELB, MID) | $6,000 | 65.4 | 10.9 |
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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | $16,320 | 107.2 | 6.6 |
| Value | Conor Stone (GWS) | $7,110 | 56.6 | 8 |
| Fade | Trent Rivers (MELB) | $13,180 | 81.3 | 6.2 |
| Cheapie | Jack Buckley (GWS) | $7,920 | 56.1 | 7.1 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tom Green (GWS) | $15,720 | 101.1 | 6.4 |
| Value | James Leake (GWS) | $6,000 | 67.7 | 11.3 |
| Fade | Clayton Oliver (MELB) | $14,640 | 77.2 | 5.3 |
| Cheapie | Jack Henderson (MELB) | $6,000 | 65.4 | 10.9 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brent Daniels (GWS) | $13,060 | 83.5 | 6.4 |
| Value | Matthew Jefferson (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
| Fade | Toby Bedford (GWS) | $10,330 | 65.7 | 6.4 |
| Cheapie | Aidan Johnson (MELB) | $6,000 | 46.4 | 7.7 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $16,940 | 104.7 | 6.2 |
| Value | Lachlan Keeffe (GWS) | $7,320 | 54.4 | 7.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your AFL Demons vs Giants Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like James Leake. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Lachie Whitfield is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Jack Henderson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Clayton Oliver is one of the worst value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Demons vs Giants slate closes at 3:20pm AEDT 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 Demons vs Giants Round 1 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 Demons vs Giants 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 Melbourne vs GWS GIANTS 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.
