Round 13 of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season continues this Sunday with another massive daily fantasy contest on offer from Draftstars with over $50,000 in guaranteed prize money in their main daily fantasy tournament.
Sunday delivers two games with strikingly contrasting narratives but a consistent fantasy theme — both feature one team expected to dominate the other comprehensively. Sydney are installed as 28.5-point favourites at the SCG against a St Kilda side missing Sam Flanders for the season with an Achilles injury, arriving having been held scoreless for an entire half against Hawthorn last week. Carlton arrive at the MCG as 30.5-point favourites against an Essendon side that has now lost five consecutive matches and 24 of their last 25 games, averaging just 68 points per game across that stretch while conceding over 100 per match. The Bombers remain without a permanent head coach and their injury list continues to grow. These two dominant game scripts open up a rich Swans and Blues stacking opportunity from a daily fantasy perspective and the matchup data strongly supports attacking both.
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AFL $50,000+ Sunday
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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 13 Sunday
AFL Fantasy Round 13 – Sunday: Where to Attack?
The matchup data is exceptionally clear on this slate and points in the same direction for both games — attack the team conceding points and align with the dominant game script.
In the SCG game, St Kilda have been conceding above average to key forwards (+2.16, 59%), general forwards (+0.61, 52%), but as always the real focus will be on the defensive side of things when sides go against the Saints. The wings and attacking half backs are we should focus with the Saints giving up over 7 points per game above average, the third most in the league. This is further supported by general defenders (giving up over 2 points per game above average), and the designated kickers (over 4 points above average). Stacking the Swans backs is a lock play on this slate.
Going the other way, Sydney have been among the toughest teams in the competition to score against giving up the fewest points in the league in 2026. Things particularly tough through their inside midfield (-7.17,), ruck (-7.11) and key forwards (-8.31).
In the MCG game, Essendon have been conceding the most points in the competition to inside midfielders at +10.63 above average. They have also been giving up above average to wings and general defenders (+6.55) and general defenders (+4.80) and designated kickers (+5.54). Carlton's midfield, wings and half-backs are the direct beneficiaries. In the opposite direction, Carlton have been giving up above average to the ruck (+13.98) — the second most generous ruck concession in the competition — which creates a fascinating angle back through Essendon's ruck setup.
Game Script – Sydney backs and forwards, Carlton midfielders
AFL Fantasy Round 13 Sunday: Our Value Fantasy Picks
Caiden Cleary ($7,050) is the salary relief play that makes the rest of the lineup work financially and his case is built on an improving role and the Sydney game script. His last three scores of 65, 60 and 51 average 58.7 points — not spectacular but a reliable floor at minimum-adjacent pricing. In a game where Sydney are 27.5-point favourites and expected to dominate possession and territory, Cleary's role generates the accumulation that comes with playing on the winning side in a blowout. At $7,050 he is a necessary salary saver that allows you to carry four premium mids above him.
Nick Bryan ($9,410) is the contrarian ruck play that makes this lineup construction unique and the matchup data backs it strongly. Carlton have been giving up the second highest points in the competition to rucks at +13.98 above league average. With the primary Sydney ruck option in Brodie Grundy expected to consume a large portion of ownership, Bryan as Essendon's number one ruckman stepping into Carlton's historically generous ruck concession is the differentiating play of the slate.
AFL Fantasy Round 13 Sunday: Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Harry McKay ($11,280) steps into this matchup as Carlton's primary key forward against an Essendon side that has been giving up above average to key forwards over the last 10 games at a 59% win rate. His scores of 71, 92 and 70 across his last three average a solid 77.7 points and his opponent history against Essendon reads 97, 50 and 56 — that 97 the ceiling reference confirming what is available when Carlton control the game and flood the ball forward. In a game Carlton are 28.5-point favourites, his marking and goal-kicking floor is well supported by game script.
AFL Fantasy Round 13 Sunday: Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Sam Walsh ($15,070) is the Carlton premium lock in on this slate with one of the best individual matchups you will find this season. Walsh has posted 109, 96, 76, 98 and 82 for an average of 92.2 over his last five and his opponent history against Essendon reads 89, 105 and 79 — all solid scores in a matchup that is about to get significantly more generous given Essendon's injury carnage and structural deterioration. His MCG venue scores of 109, 107, 105, 100 and 89 are extraordinary — four of his last five games on the ground have been at 100+. As noted above, Essendon are giving up the most points in the league currently to inside midfielders and Walsh, operating as Carlton's primary contested ball winner alongside Cripps, will be the direct beneficiary.
Chad Warner ($14,160) was played more predominantly in his most natural role as an inside midfielder last week after splitting a lot of the season between forward and mid. This saw his highest number of centre bounce attendances since round 5 at over 70% just under double what had been typical in recent weeks. No surprise that in this role he unleashed a 123 point fantasy game. If this continues I expect the scores to continue to see that range offering a very high ceiling for a reasonable price point at $14k.
Nick Blakey ($14,000) is locked in as Sydney's designated kicker premium into the best matchup for that role on the slate — St Kilda conceding over 4 points above average to that position. I will be stacking up the Swans backs on this slate and starting that with Blakey who will be taking the majority of the kick ins. His ceiling is up over the 120 mark as seen already this season and if there is any game that is likely to be in play it is this one.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup for AFL Sunday
Weather Report for Sunday 7th June
SCG (Sydney) — 15 degrees, partly cloudy. Dry conditions forecast, no weather concerns for the afternoon game.
MCG (Melbourne) — 11 degrees, clear. Cool winter evening under lights. Ideal scoring conditions for the Sunday night game.
AFL Betting Markets Round 13 Sunday
Sydney ($1.21) vs St Kilda ($4.50)
Points: 187.5
Line: Sydney -28.5
Essendon ($4.90) vs Carlton ($1.20)
Points: 169.5
Line: Carlton -30.5
Also, be sure to check out our full AFL Sunday Preview and Betting Tips. Our experts break down each game and highlight some key bets that you can follow!
