We’re looking forward to another Super Saturday of AFL action for Round 9 with four juicy AFL matches to get stuck into. The Dees will be looking to keep their momentum going but they have a huge challenge against the Hawks to kick off the day’s action. The Bombers and Swans always produce an exciting contest, before we have two great matches in the evening. The Dogs will have a big task to knock off the Suns at their home away from home in Darwin, while the Showdown is always a blockbuster between the Power and the Crows. So how do we tackle this Draftstars slate? Let’s find out!
As always this is all about the daily fantasy and this massive Saturday slate draws another $60,000 prize pool at Draftstars in their main contest. In addition, there are a variety of alternate contests:
AFL $60,000+ Saturday
AFL $5,000+ Saturday High Roller ($150 Entry)
AFL $3,000+ Saturday Mini ($2 Entry)
The AFL Star contest is back again for 2025 and Draftstars are once again offering the biggest prize pool in Australian DFS history with a $1 million guaranteed final with $250,000 top prize! There are qualifiers and satellites running for every AFL match.
Betting Markets
Melbourne ($3.90) vs Hawthorn ($1.26)
Line: Hawthorn -23.5
Points: 170.5
Essendon ($2.36) vs Sydney ($1.59)
Line: Sydney -8.5
Points: 172.5
Gold Coast ($1.89) vs Western Bulldogs ($1.95)
Line: Gold Coast -0.5
Points: 176.5
Port Adelaide ($2.65) vs Adelaide ($1.49)
Line: Adelaide -12.5
Points: 176.5
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Additionally, we have a full Round 9 betting previews where we provide our best bet for the game as well as a great value Same Game Multi!
Weather
Melbourne - Sunny, 19 degrees.
Darwin - Mostly cloudy, 33 degrees.
Adelaide - Sunny, 21 degrees.
It could be typically humid in Darwin which may create some slippery conditions but otherwise lovely weather around the country on Saturday.
Where to Attack?
With three very competitive games on this Saturday slate, the most obvious place to attack is the Hawks who should get a comfortable win against the Dees. Melbourne have given up huge fantasy numbers to the opposition key forwards this season, while also conceding above average stats in the back half to wingers and defensive runners as well as designated kickers. Look to include plenty of Hawks in your lineup.
The other games will be more closely contested with only a few areas to potentially exploit. Both the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide have struggled to contain opposition key forwards, while Gold Coast and Adelaide can concede points to the opposition designated kicker.
For the most part, Adelaide have been particularly stingy to their opposition, while the Gold Coast’s Jarrod Witts is the toughest ruck match up in the league.
Game scripts: Hawthorn stacks
VALUE PLAYS
Lewis Hayes ($6,000) looks set to make his debut for the Bombers after a string of great performances in the VFL. The key defender has had scores of 132, 82, 118 and 88 in the VFL this season, on the back of 45 marks in four matches. Given the outs, it’s hard to see Hayes as the sub, so he should get good opportunity and only needs a couple of cheap kick-to-kicks in the back half to hit value.
Dante Visentini ($6,910) has come into the Port Adelaide side as the solo ruckman with Jordan Sweet dropped from the side. Any time you see a #1 ruck at near minimum price, it’s worth consideration. Visentini hasn’t set the world on fire in the SANFL or his previous AFL matches, but he did score a 60 and 71 last year as solo ruck, which isn’t too bad at the price point. Should get his hand on it first in the hitouts enough times during the night for a solid floor, and hopefully can link up for a few touches around the ground as well.
MID PRICED PLAYS
Henry Hustwaite ($10,910) is an emerging young player at the Hawks who is making the most of some opportunity in the midfield. Shows a lot of class, and although I don’t usually like paying up for rookies who can easily downswing, he gets a great match up here against the Dees who leak points. Hustwaite has scored 74 and 87 in his first two matches this season, so we’d love to be up above that mark again. Pivot to Josh Ward ($10,770) at the same price if you’re looking for a bit more of a proven history.
Dylan Moore ($11,450) hasn’t been in great form this season but he ticks a lot of boxes here. Comes in underpriced for his ceiling - who would’ve thought he’d be cheaper than Jack Gunston - and has a great match up here against the Dees for a mid/forward. We want more from Moore!
PREMIUM PLAYS
Jai Newcombe ($15,760) is the premium I want on my side this week. Still largely underrated, Newcombe can quietly accumulate fantasy points with the best of them, as evident from his 142 earlier in the season against Carlton. The feature of Newcombe’s game is his tackling which always gives him a good floor to work from. Newcombe is averaging 101.6 for the season and we’ll be looking for him to go well past that here.
Suggested Draftstars Team
