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AFL Daily Fantasy Tips 2026: Round 21 Sunday

July 31st 2026, 8:52pm, By: Andy Rosos

AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 21 Sunday Slate

Round 21 serves up a three-game Sunday slate with plenty of fantasy appeal. The action kicks off at 1:10pm as Richmond host West Coast before Gold Coast welcome Melbourne to People First Stadium at 3:15pm. The final game of the day sees Essendon take on Adelaide in what shapes as one of the best fantasy environments of the round.

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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 21 Sunday Slate

AFL Fantasy Round 21 Sunday: Where to Attack?

The opening match between Richmond and West Coast gives us two struggling sides that have consistently leaked fantasy points all season. Richmond remain one of the best teams to target regardless of position, allowing huge scores to key forwards, intercept defenders, outside runners and inside midfielders. The Eagles should find plenty of value here, while Richmond players are also viable against a West Coast side that has had its own defensive issues throughout the year.

Gold Coast take on Melbourne in the second game of the slate. The Demons continue to play an aggressive style that can open up plenty of uncontested ball for opposition defenders and wingmen, although they remain difficult to score against through key forwards and rucks. Gold Coast have shown similar trends this season, making this game particularly attractive for outside players who can accumulate marks and uncontested possessions.

The final game between Essendon and Adelaide is where plenty of fantasy line-ups are likely to be built. Essendon remain the most generous fantasy side in the competition, giving up massive scores across almost every position. Adelaide's midfielders, half-backs and forwards all come into play, and stacking multiple Crows together is a strategy that should prove popular.

Game scriptI'm building heavily around Adelaide against the league's leakiest fantasy defence, mixing in plenty of West Coast players against Richmond's generous matchup, while using Gold Coast and Melbourne mainly for outside midfielders and rebounding defenders rather than full game stacks.

 

AFL Fantasy Round 21 Sunday – Our Value Fantasy Picks

Oscar Ryan ($6,000) - It's always difficult trusting a debutant, but at basement pricing Ryan doesn't need much to pay off. Adelaide couldn't have asked for a better matchup, and if he can translate his strong SANFL form to AFL level, he has every chance of returning excellent value.

Jobe Shanahan ($7,580) - The young Eagle has flashed plenty of upside already this season, producing several scores in the 70-point range. Richmond continue to concede huge numbers to opposition key forwards, making this an ideal opportunity for Shanahan to produce his best fantasy score to date.

 

AFL Fantasy Round 21 Sunday – Our Mid Priced Fantasy Picks

Nick Vlastuin ($10,030) - West Coast have consistently allowed defenders to rack up easy possessions, marks and kick-ins throughout the season. Vlastuin is coming off a massive 114-point performance and profiles as one of the safest mid-priced defenders available on this slate.

Isaac Cumming ($9,530) - Cumming's recent scores haven't jumped off the page, but the matchup certainly does. Essendon allow opposition half-backs and outside midfielders to accumulate with ease, giving Cumming every chance to outperform his salary if Adelaide controls possession as expected.

 

AFL Fantasy Round 21 Sunday – Our Premium Fantasy Picks

Jordan Dawson ($17,840)There's very little to overthink here. Dawson continues to produce elite fantasy numbers with scores of 108, 126, 112, 102 and 99 across his past five matches. Facing the most fantasy-friendly team in the competition only strengthens his case as one of the premier spend-up options on the slate.

 

Suggested Draftstars Lineup for AFL Fantasy Round 20 Sunday

AFL Draftstars Lineup

 

Weather Report for Sunday 2 August

Melbourne (MCG) - 17 degrees and clear
Gold Coast (People First Stadium) - 20 degrees and clear
Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) - 16 degrees and clear

 

AFL Betting Markets Round 21 Sunday

Richmond ($2.25) vs West Coast ($1.65) 
Line: West Coast -6.5
Total: 167.5

Gold Coast ($2.39) vs Melbourne ($1.58)
Line: Melbourne -9.5
Total: 179.5

Essendon ($7.50) vs Adelaide ($1.10)
Line: Adelaide -41.5
Total: 174.5

 

Also, be sure to check out our full AFL Sunday Preview and Betting Tips. Our experts break down each individual game and highlight some key bets that you can follow!

NextBet

Andy Rosos is a senior writer and analyst at Before You Bet, where he’s been sharing betting insights for over ten years. With a degree in sports journalism and a sharp eye for value, Andy specialises in identifying longshot contenders on the PGA Tour and has built a loyal following for his weekly golf previews. His work also extends across cricket and AFL, where he combines statistical analysis with deep game knowledge to deliver well-rounded tips for punters.

A diehard St Kilda supporter and self-confessed cricket tragic, Andy’s passion for sport extends beyond the mainstream — including a weekly punt on the Call of Duty League. Whether it's a Test match at the MCG or a late-night esports showdown, he’s always hunting for an edge. If there’s value to be found, chances are Andy’s already on it.

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