Round 16 of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season concludes with a two-game Sunday slate and Draftstars are offering over $50,000 in guaranteed prize money in their main daily fantasy tournament.
Sunday’s two games could not be more contrasting in their competitive outlook. At Marvel Stadium, North Melbourne host Essendon in a game where the Roos are installed as clear favourites following back-to-back wins over West Coast and Richmond. Essendon have now lost nine straight, averaging just 57.8 points per game across their last five outings — an almost historically poor scoring sequence. Their attack has been held to 50, 67, 55, 56 and 50 points across that stretch and the Bombers arrive without Archie Roberts (shoulder) and Kyle Langford (quad), with Jye Caldwell, Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Isaac Kako all returning to the lineup. For North Melbourne they will see the return of Josh Goater who has not played a game since round one of 2024. At Optus Stadium, Fremantle are on the verge of one of the great regular-season records, sitting 13-1 and installed as heavy favourites at home against a Gold Coast side that has lost four of their last five. Fremantle’s home form and defensive structure make them almost impenetrable at Optus Stadium in 2026 and Gold Coast arrive without the home-ground advantage that has underpinned their better performances this season.
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AFL $50,000+ Sunday
AFL $5,000+ Sunday High Roller ($150 Entry)
AFL $3,000+ Sunday Mini ($2 Entry)
AFL $2,000+ Sunday Micro (50c Entry)
Also this season the AFL Star is back for 2026 with a massive $1 million prize pool! Win your way into the Final by winning a Golden Ticket in a range of qualifiers running every weekend!
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AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 16 Sunday Slate
AFL Fantasy Round 16 Sunday: Where to Attack?
Both games on this slate have a clear directional lean from the matchup data and the game scripts reinforce each other for lineup building purposes.
At Marvel Stadium the matchup data tells a compelling story in favour of North Melbourne players. Essendon have been giving up over 7 points above league average to inside midfielders — the second highest inside midfield concession in the entire competition. They have also been generous to key forwards (+3.00), general forwards (+2.83) and general defenders and wings (above average across both positions). In the context of a nine-game losing streak where their defensive structure has completely broken down, every North Melbourne midfielder and forward steps into the most permissive matchup environment in the competition. Harry Sheezel is the standout play of the entire slate — his inside midfield ceiling against Essendon’s concession is limitless. Going back the other way, North Melbourne have been exceptionally tough on rucks, conceding 13.56 below average — the most restrictive ruck matchup in the competition. One area Essendon could capitalise against North is key forwards, with North giving up the most points in the league to the position over the last 10 games.
At Optus Stadium, the Fremantle vs Gold Coast matchup provides a complementary set of angles. Gold Coast have given up the third most points in the league to inside midfielders at over 3 points above league average per game. Meanwhile, no shock that the top team in the league, Fremantle, has been the toughest team in the league to score against. I would be very wary about rostering Gold Coast players on this slate.
Game Script – North Melbourne full game stack - inside midfielders, forwards, backs
AFL Fantasy Round 16 Sunday – Our Value Fantasy Picks
Nick Bryan ($8,980) is the bold contrarian ruck call on this slate and the honest assessment requires acknowledging the matchup headwind directly. North Melbourne have been the most restrictive team in the competition for rucks, conceding 13.56 below league average. The case for Bryan despite that data is that North are heading in with a very undermanned ruck department this week with Xerri being out. Given all four ruck divisions on the slate today do a great job generally of restricting opposition scoring, I love spending down on Bryan against the North second stringers to spend up elsewhere.
Josh Goater ($6,000) is the minimum-price salary relief play that makes the rest of the lineup financially viable. He has posted 32, 80, 58, 41 and 57 in his last five for a last-three average of 56.7 — but this was dating right back to round one of 2024 when he played his last game. What I love is just getting a cheap play and stacking up with another North back given how much they love racking the ball up across the half back line and Essendon give up high scores in that area of the ground.
Patrick Voss ($9,620) is the Fremantle forward value play and his recent form has been outstanding. He has posted 59, 124, 90, 70 and 85 in his last five for a last-three average of 91 points — that 124 being a career-best that confirmed his ceiling when Fremantle are generating inside-50 entries at will. In a game where Fremantle are strong favourites at home against Gold Coast, the ball movement into their forward line should be prolific all afternoon. Gold Coast have been conceding above average to general forwards and at $9,620 for a player averaging 91 across his last three with a 124 ceiling, he is the forward value lock of the Fremantle game.
AFL Fantasy Round 16 Sunday – Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
George Wardlaw ($10,690) is the third North Melbourne midfielder to target in the Essendon inside midfield concession and his opponent record is the case. He has posted 78, 73, 67, 60 and 59 in his last five for a last-three average of 72.7 — a consistent range that reflects his reliable floor. His opponent gives up one of the highest scores in the league to inside midfielders and I like going to Wardlaw as a mid priced option in my stacks.
AFL Fantasy Round 16 Sunday – Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Harry Sheezel ($17,080) is the premium lock of the slate and one of the clearest individual plays of the entire 2026 season. He has posted 116, 129, 90, 121 and 93 in his last five for a last-three average of 111.7 — a run of elite consistency that makes him the highest-ceiling midfielder in the competition right now. His opponent scores against Essendon of 136, 134 and 119 in his last three meetings average 129.7 — three straight scores between 119 and 136 in this exact matchup. Essendon are conceding the most points in the competition to inside midfielders and Sheezel is the best inside midfielder in the competition. His Marvel Stadium venue scores of 136, 121 and 93 average 116.7 at this ground. At $17,080 he is first named in every lineup on Sunday. His season-high of 136 was posted against Essendon.
Luke Davies-Uniacke ($14,140) has seen a price reduction from his recent performances where he has posted 66, 84, 67, 126 and 68 in his last five for a last-three average of 72.3, but has a season-high of 162 and his opponent scores against Essendon of 125, 86, 113, 126 and 116 tell the real story — five consecutive scores all above 86 against this opponent, averaging 113.2. Lock and load with the other North players.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup for AFL Fantasy Round 16 Sunday
Weather Report for Sunday 28th June
Marvel Stadium (Melbourne) — roof closed, no weather concerns. Ideal scoring conditions.
Optus Stadium (Perth) — 19 degrees and showers up to 15mm – keep an eye here on who you play as in the wet inside midfielders, rucks and players who tackle are best.
AFL Betting Markets Round 16 Sunday
North Melbourne ($1.42) vs Essendon ($2.76)
Points: 170.5
Line: North Melbourne -13.5
Fremantle ($1.20) vs Gold Coast ($4.90)
Points: 160.5
Line: Fremantle -28.5
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!
