AFL is back! Well, kinda.
This Saturday night we are treated to a special exhibition State of Origin match between Western Australia and Victoria. Who knows how serious this thing will be but no one is complaining because it’s footy and we miss it.
The squads are star-studded with the mighty Vics taking on the best of the West. It will be great to see the AFL’s superstars in action again, but while this match has the State of Origin label, it’s hard to imagine it’s going to instill the same vigour and passion of representing your state in years gone by.
Instead, we’ll see limited minutes, plenty of rotations and some pretty open, bruise-free footy.
That does make it tricky from a fantasy perspective, but we’ll do our best guesswork to put together a squad and have a crack at the $20,000 prize pool guaranteed on Draftstars. That number will probably be exceeded as the top prize pushes out beyond $2,000. Not bad good for footy in February!
AFL State of Origin 2026: Western Australia vs Victoria
Optus Stadium, Perth
Saturday February 14th 7:30pm AEDT
Western Australia ($2.98) vs Victoria ($1.38)
Line: Victoria -18.5
Points: 192.5
Game Script
Most players are priced pretty conservatively at this stage of the year, so you’ll have plenty of room in your Draftstars $100,000 salary budget to fit in some stars. I would tend to lean towards younger guys and those with something to prove, ahead of the older stars who clubs will want to wrap in cotton wool for this one.
With a line of 192.5 points, I expect it to be high scoring and free flowing which should suit the forwards who might get more of a fantasy bump than usual. The Vics are warm favourites so you can lean into them a little as well. Their midfield looks particularly strong.
The Vics do have a distinct lack of key forwards if you discount aging veterans like Dangerfield, Gunston and Bontempelli who looks likely to play forward. Surely the Bulldogs won’t want Sam Darcy playing big minutes, while Jeremy Cameron had off-season surgery on his arm which leaves him underdone. I expect to see Max Gawn and Tristan Xerri to rest up forward.
Rucks
Hard to go past Max Gawn ($12,260) at that price. Yes, he’s in the veteran category but he’s as durable as they come so I don’t think there’s any fear of Max playing good minutes in the middle, and he can also float forward with good effect. Luke Jackson ($10,910) is an appealing price but he won’t be rucking, so how much mid-time is he going to actually get in this team?
Forwards
My eye went straight to Zac Merrett ($10,770) who looks a great price. He’ll have a point to prove this season after the shambolic off-season trade failure, and will probably enjoy running around in a jumper that’s not red and black. Can play anywhere on the ground.
Zac Butters ($12,750) is another young gun who doesn’t really have a 2nd gear, so it will probably be pedal to the metal for him.
If you think WA can hit the scoreboard then Jesse Hogan ($8,640), Mitch Georgiades ($7,710) and Jake Waterman ($7,510) all provide some salary relief but I think they’ll also spend a fair bit of time on the pine.
Midfield
Chad Warner ($14,690) is the most expensive player on this slate, but he’s too rich for me given the wealth of talent on offer. I’ll fade Nick Daicos ($13,760) as the Rolls Royce was spotted with strapping on his calf at training, so I don’t expect him to have much impact. I’m also going to steer clear of Hugh McLuggage ($12,870) simply because Brisbane will have had the least preseason preparation of any team at this point of the season.
I’ll lean into the youth of Caleb Serong ($10,370), Ed Richards ($11,080) and Max Holmes ($13,420), while Brownlow medalist Matt Rowell ($9,180) looks a good price, however I don’t think this will exactly be an in-and-under contest that will suit him.
Defenders
I’m keen to spend up in the backline on those who distribute, with plenty of loose ball available and easy kicks to be had. Jordan Clark ($13,150) and Lachie Ash ($12,680) are the two who should thrive and I’m pretty set on those two being close to the leading fantasy winners on the ground. Just keep an eye out for any late news on Clark who did leave a Freo match simulation early last weekend with an injury scare but has been declared right to go.
Draftstars Suggested Lineup
