Gabba Blockbuster: Lions and Cats Clash in Thursday Night DraftStars Gold

Thursday night footy heads to the Gabba as the Brisbane Lions host the Geelong Cats in a mouth-watering 2026 prime-time showdown. With heavy clearance traffic expected and two potent forward lines ready to fire, this clash is set to be an absolute goldmine for daily fantasy coaches.

Our FootyBets.ai algorithm has crunched the numbers, and a few familiar faces are absolutely dominating the optimal builds. Here’s why these core players are primed to stuff the stat sheet:

• Lachie Neale (MID): A genuine lock appearing in 100% of our optimal builds. The Lions maestro will be the focal point in the engine room, guaranteed to rack up massive points through a high volume of inside disposals, clearances, and crucial stoppage tackles.
• Cam Rayner (FWD): Also sitting in 10/10 lineups, Rayner is projected for a monster night. His ability to push up the ground for link-up marks before drifting deep to kick a couple of snags gives him a rock-solid fantasy floor.
• Conor McKenna (FWD): Earning his spot in every single lineup, the dashing Irishman is a structural necessity. Earmarked for plenty of the cheap pill, he'll accumulate points rapidly through uncontested marks and run-and-carry disposals.
• Sam Draper (RUC): The big man in Lions colours appears in 9/10 builds and is tipped to bully the ruck battle. His aggressive tap-work, hit-outs to advantage, and ferocious follow-up tackling make him a fantasy standout.
• Max Holmes (DEF): Geelong’s premier rebounding weapon features in 8/10 lineups. Expect him to feast on uncontested marks and rack up high-impact disposals as he launches the Cats out of the defensive fifty.

Positional Quick Tips

• RUC: Lock in Sam Draper; the matchup perfectly suits his physical around-the-ground presence.
• DEF: Max Holmes provides an elite ceiling, but don't sleep on Brisbane's Darcy Wilmot to mop up intercept marks.
• MID: You simply can't fade Lachie Neale. If you want a point of difference, pairing him with Josh Dunkley's tackle pressure or Geelong's midfield bull Bailey Smith offers immense upside.
• FWD: Cam Rayner provides safety, while Cat Gryan Miers is the perfect pivot to rack up those high-half-forward disposal chains.

Ready to dominate the slate? Check out FootyBets.ai’s Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for this massive Thursday night clash below!