FootyBets.aiDraftStars Gold: Demons & Giants Clash in the Red Centre
Footy heads to the spiritual heart of Australia this Sunday, 31 May 2026, as Melbourne and the GWS Giants lock horns at Traeger Park. With the wide wings and dry Alice Springs conditions expected, this matchup is absolutely ripe for outside runners and pressure forwards to fill up the stat sheet.
Our FootyBets.ai algorithm has run the numbers. Here’s a breakdown of the heavy hitters dominating our optimal builds.
Lachie Ash (MID) Featuring in 100% of our optimal lineups, Ash is projected for a massive 104.2 points. Expect him to absolutely feast on the wide expanses of Traeger Park, racking up uncontested marks and sweeping disposals off half-back and through the wings.
Kysaiah Pickett (FWD) Another unanimous lock. "Kozzy" is tipped for a huge 94.3 points. The Traeger Park deck suits his electric pace, meaning you can bank on a healthy diet of forward-half pressure tackles, inside-50 disposals, and a couple of trademark snags.
Leek Aleer (RUC) The Giants' athletic tall is our AI’s undisputed ruck choice. Projected for a sturdy 57.4 points, Aleer will get his hands dirty with hitouts, follow-up clearances, and crucial intercept grabs around the ground.
Jack Steele (MID) Now dominating the engine room in red and blue, Steele (95.5 projected) appears in 80% of our builds. You can always bank on the tough nut for double-digit tackles, hardball gets, and a mountain of contested possessions.
Harry Himmelberg (DEF) Appearing in 9 out of 10 builds, Harry is your defensive anchor. His 71.4 projected points will come from a reliable baseline of intercept marks and rebound 50s as the Giants look to launch their offense.
Position-by-Position Quick Tips
- RUC: Don't overthink it—lock in Leek Aleer and allocate your resources elsewhere.
- DEF: Stack the Orange Tsunami. Harry Himmelberg and Sam Taylor are intercept magnets that provide a super safe floor.
- MID: Build around Lachie Ash and Jack Steele, but don't sleep on Brent Daniels for some dynamic forward-half connection.
- FWD: Kysaiah Pickett is your ceiling play, while veteran Toby Greene offers match-winning scoreboard impact.
Scroll down to lock and load our AI-generated Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups for this blockbuster!