Round 15 of the 2025 AFL season will see us travel across to Optus Stadium this Thursday night where Fremantle will host Essendon. The Dockers have moved into the 8th spot on the ladder and will be looking to solidify that spot with a big win over the sturggling Bombers. Essendon have fallen to 12th spot and are two games and massive percentage out of the top eight now.
As always, this is all about the daily fantasy and this Thursday night game draws another massive $50,000 prize pool at Draftstars in their main contest, plus more qualifiers for the $1 million AFL Star contest! In addition, there are a variety of alternate contests:
AFL $50,000+ Dockers vs Bombers at Draftstars
AFL $5,000+ Dockers vs Bombers High Roller ($150 Entry) at Draftstars
AFL $3,000+ Dockers vs Bombers Mini ($2 Entry) at Draftstars
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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 15 Fremantle vs Essendon
AFL Dockers vs Bombers: Where to Attack?
No shock that Essendon, given their position on the ladder and their percentage this season, offer plenty of opportunities for targeting fantasy scoring. They have been giving up above average points to key forwards with a number of they key backs being out of their lineup. They are also conceding points through the midfield, giving up the fourth most points in the league to this position over the last 10 games. Finally designated kickers and attacking half backs are also an area we can roster in this matchup, which will align with Fremantle’s game style as they love to possess the ball across this area of the ground.
Fremantle on the other hand have also been giving up above average points to midfielders and general defenders. If the Dockers get on top of this game as expected, given they are 30 point favourites, we will likely see plenty of ball in Essendon’s backline.
Game Script – Fremantle forwards (especially key forwards), Fremantle midfielders and Essendon backs
AFL Dockers vs Bombers: Our Value Fantasy Picks
James Aish ($6,180) there is a SUB WATCH here but if Aish is starting the game, he is a total lock at this price point. He has played one full game with a return of 50 fantasy points, which while not a huge score, would still be a solid enough return on this single game slate. But we all know his upside and this is an elite matchup for the outside players against the Bombers. If he is sub, switch over to Jeremy Sharp ($7,010) who will also have a solid matchup in this spot.
Vigo Visentini ($8,000) will come in on debut as the sole ruck for the Bombers in this matchup. Anytime this happens at a value price point for a ruck he is almost always in play (and usually a lock). In the VFL Vigo has gone over 100 points in three of his last five games, the one downside here is he isn’t $6,000, so he will need a work to the 70-80 point mark to return adequate value. Also you will need to consider how much Luke Jackson ($13,990) will dominate this matchup, as a ceiling game of 120-130 is certainly on the cards in this matchup and unfortunately you cannot roster both players as they are both straight rucks on this slate.
AFL Dockers vs Bombers: Our Mid-Priced Fantasy Picks
Zak Johnson ($9,990) has come in and delivered from a fantasy perspective immediately with back-to-back scores of 104 and 79 points the last two weeks. This is a testament to two things - he has the ability to find the ball and playing in the Bombers backline right now is a fantasy gold mine. You can quite easily look to stack up the Bombers defenders in this matchup and gain salary savings by placing Johnson into those stacks. As noted above, the Dockers are giving up above average points to general defenders.
Josh Treacy ($10,400)… straight back to the well here with Treacy. He didn’t quite meet the mark last week for his mid-ranged price point returning a 74-point game but it didn’t kill us either. This week the matchup is arguably better with the Bombers lack of key backs and the Dockers should win by a bigger margin as North kept the game close.
AFL Dockers vs Bombers: Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Andrew Brayshaw ($16,670) is coming off back-to-back scores of 136 and 113 fantasy points and we will be looking to load on the Dockers through the midfield. The choice between Brayshaw and Serong is made easier by the expectation that Will Setterfield will likely be playing a tagging role on Serong.
Will Setterfield ($14,450) notched up a season high 138 points last week against the Cats and as noted above, the Dockers are giving up the fourth most points in the league to inside midfielders (just behind the Bombers over that same period). Setterfield has been doing a top job holding the opposition's top inside midfielder in check while racking up touches the other way. Also if the rain hits during the game, this will suit him down to the ground as he is a tackle machine around the stoppages.
Heres our Suggested Draftstars Lineup for the Dockers vs Bombers
Weather Report Thursday June 19th 2025
Perth - 21 degrees with up to 4mm of rain.
High chance of showers but the real rain isn’t expected to hit until Friday. Keep an eye on the conditions and select accordingly if things are looking very wet.
AFL Betting Markets Round 15: Fremantle vs Essendon
Fremantle ($1.16) vs Essendon ($5.50)
Line: Fremantle -30.5
Points: 151.5
Also, be sure to check out our full AFL Preview and Betting Tips for each match. Our experts break down each individual game and highlight some key bets that you can follow!
