DFS Gold at the Cattery: Geelong vs Sydney DraftStars Preview

The footy heads down the highway this Saturday, May 23, as the Geelong Cats host the Sydney Swans in a Saturday blockbuster at Kardinia Park. With both sides packed with premium ball-winners and lethal game-breakers, this 2026 clash promises fireworks on the field and massive scores for your DraftStars lineups.

Our FootyBets.ai engine has run the numbers, and a few key names are absolutely dominating the optimal builds. Here are the core players you need to build around:

• Bailey Smith (Geelong, MID): The mullet is purring at the Cattery. Appearing in 100% of our optimal builds and projected for a massive 113.2 points, Bazlenka is an absolute lock. Expect him to rack up a mountain of disposals, lay crunching tackles, and pump the ball inside 50 all afternoon.
• Nick Blakey (Sydney, DEF): The Lizard will be doing what he does best—launching counter-attacks from half-back. His sweeping intercept marks and booming kicks make his 90.4 projection look highly achievable.
• Chad Warner (Sydney, MID): You just can't ignore the Chad. He’s explosive out of the stoppage and loves a snag on the run, ensuring a healthy diet of clearances, tackles, and scoreboard impact (projected 85.4 pts).
• Gryan Miers (Geelong, FWD): The man with the funky action is a fantasy point magnet. His elite work rate up the ground guarantees a pile of uncontested touches, marks, and those highly lucrative goal assists (projected 82.1 pts).

Position-by-Position Quick Tips

• RUC: Geelong's Mitchell Edwards is the undisputed choice here, appearing in every single optimal lineup. Lock him in for reliable tap work and around-the-ground presence.
• DEF: Beyond Blakey, look to Zach Guthrie for steady intercepting and distribution points, or sprinkle in Tom Atkins for his elite tackling pressure.
• MID: It's a crowded engine room! While Smith and Warner are must-haves, do not sleep on Max Holmes (projected 101.9 pts) whose outside run on the narrow Kardinia wings is lethal. Young Swan Caiden Cleary is also popping up in every optimal build to balance your midfield.
• FWD: Miers is essential, but if you need a point of difference to finish your forward line, James Jordon has dual-position appeal and tackles hard to keep his floor safe.

Ready to lock in a winning team? Scroll down to see the Top 10 optimal lineups our FootyBets.ai engine has generated for this Saturday showdown!