Round 4 of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season will continue this Sunday another huge daily fantasy contest on offer from Draftstars with over $60,000 in guaranteed in prize money in their main daily fantasy tournament.
This Sunday delivers a cracking two-game Easter slate with some outstanding fantasy matchups to play with. The afternoon game sees Melbourne hosting the top of the table Gold Coast Suns at the MCG in what will be our first of two game stacking opportunities. The Suns will welcome back Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell for his 2026 debut after recovering from a finger injury and will be looking to stay undefeated. The night cap is nothing short of a mismatch on paper, with the undefeated Western Bulldogs hosting Essendon at Marvel Stadium in a game where the Bulldogs are a staggering 74.5-point favourite. The Bombers head into this game 0-3 and without Nate Caddy (concussion) while Tom Liberatore is also out injured for the Dogs, but that barely changes the expectations for this game — the Bulldogs have beaten Essendon by 91 and 93 points in their last two meetings and this shapes as the primary game stack target of the slate.
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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 4 Sunday
AFL Fantasy Round 4 Sunday: Where to Attack?
We continue to blend prior year trends with what we have seen through the first three rounds of 2026.
We quite simply have to start with the night game. The Bulldogs vs Essendon game is the biggest game stack option of the year so far to date and will be the hammer game on this slate, as noted above with the Dogs being such heavy favourites there is simply no reason not to load up. Over the last 10 games Essendon have given up above average fantasy points to all positions apart from the ruck, this includes the second most points in the league to inside midfielders, second most to key forwards, most to general forwards and second most to general defenders. Everywhere you look is an obvious play. On the flip side you can fully stack this game and play backs against the Bulldogs. Despite their unbeaten record the Western Bulldogs have given up above average fantasy scoring to all defender positions, which makes for a very clean game script.
For Melbourne vs Gold Coast, there is a similar theme but is just isn’t as overwhelming. Melbourne have given up above average scoring across all positions on the ground apart from ruck over the last 10 games. This includes the most in the league to attacking half backs and wingers.
Game Script – Western Bulldogs forwards and inside midfielders, Essendon backs (or sub Gold Coast backs in here)
AFL Fantasy Round 4 Sunday: Our Value Fantasy Picks
Ethan Read ($7,740) is one of the more interesting value plays on this slate given the form he has shown through the opening three rounds of 2026. He posted a career-high 99 fantasy points in round 3 against Richmond kicking four goals — a statement performance that showed his ceiling (who can be played as either a ruck or a forward – crucial on this slate given the teams scoring against rucks profiles) at this price point is significant. His scores of 99, 37 and 62 this season reflect the volatility that comes with his role, but on a slate where Gold Coast are 20.5-point favourites against Melbourne, the game script strongly favours a Suns forward line that will be generating repeat inside 50 entries all afternoon. Melbourne gave up above average points to key forwards over the last 10 games making the conditions set up for another big performance. At under $8k in a game the Suns are expected to control, his ceiling is more than enough to win you a tournament.
Zak Johnson ($8,390) is a second-year defender who has shown genuine ceiling in 2026, posting a career-high 90 fantasy points in round 2 from his half-back role where he accumulates disposals and pushes up the ground. His scores of 32, 90 and 50 reflect the volatility of his role but that 90 gives us the ceiling reference we need at this price point — and against the Western Bulldogs this week the conditions are actually set up reasonably well for him. While the Bulldogs are enormous favourites in this game, they have historically given up points to designated kickers and attacking half backs, and Johnson is exactly the type of half-back operator who benefits from playing in a free-flowing contest where the ball is moving quickly. Also given the expected outcome I would think the ball will be in the Bombers back line a lot in this matchup.
Rhylee West ($9,700) is a compelling value play on this slate given the matchup and the game script. He is firmly established in the Bulldogs' forward line as one of their most dangerous small forwards who forms a genuine three-pronged attacking threat alongside Naughton and Darcy. His 2025 average of 65.6 points already undervalues his price, and in a game where the Bulldogs are 74.5-point favourites and expected to pile on the score against Essendon, West is exactly the type of player whose ceiling rises sharply when his team dominates. Essendon gave up the second most points in the league to general forwards over the last 10 games.
AFL Fantasy Round 4 Sunday: Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Bailey Williams ($11,890) is one of the most in-form players on this entire slate and is still underpriced for what he has delivered early in 2026. The defender-turned-winge/high half foward has posted scores of 124, 76 and 103 through the first three games for an average of 101 points — a remarkable output for a player priced well under $12k. Operating across the wing and high half-forward for the Bulldogs, Williams is the type of player who thrives when his team is dominant —. Essendon gave up above average points to wings over the last 10 games and the most in the league to general forwards. In a game where the Bulldogs are 74.5-point favourites, Williams will have the run of the ground. At this price with this form he is one of the standout mid-price plays on the slate and a player you want in your lineup.
AFL Fantasy Round 4 Sunday: Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Sam Darcy ($13,880) should be primed to break out for his first true monster game of the season. As noted above, the Western Bulldogs are over 12 goal favourites on this slate and will have no real matchup against Darcy. The Bombers gave up above average points to key forwards over the last 10 games and Darcy is coming off a season in which he averaged 86.9 points primarily from a goal-heavy output where he booted 48 goals from 17 games. This tells you the ceiling when the game script is in his favour.
Ed Richards ($16,080) is one of the premium plays of the slate and a player whose 2026 form has continued exactly where his remarkable 2025 left off. The 2025 Charles Sutton medallist and All Australian averaged 96.7 fantasy points last season. His first round score of 133 shows his ceiling as a player now fully embedded in one of the game's most potent midfield groups, and the matchup against Essendon this week is as good as it gets. The Bombers have given up the second most points in the league to inside midfielders over the last 10 games, and with the Bulldogs expected to dominate possession from the opening bounce, Richards will be accumulating freely through the midfield with little defensive pressure applied. His explosive style — featuring a career-high 22 goals in 2025 alongside 35 goal assists — means he threatens the scoreboard from midfield which further amplifies his scoring output in a game the Bulldogs are set to control.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup for AFL Fantasy Round 4 Sunday
Weather Report for Sunday 5th April
Melbourne (MCG) – 19 degrees and partly cloudy
Marvel Stadium – Indoors, no weather concerns
AFL Betting Markets Round 4 Sunday
Melbourne ($3.46) vs Gold Coast ($1.31)
Points: 190.5
Line: -22.5
Western Bulldogs ($1.00) vs Essendon ($21.00)
Points: 192.5
Line: -74.5
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!
