FootyBets.aiDraftStars Guide: Hawks Set to Swoop on the Saints at Docklands
Thursday night footy heads to the fast deck at Docklands this week as St Kilda lock horns with Hawthorn. If our AI projections are anything to go by, the Hawks are primed to control the Sherrin and dictate the play in this one. Expect a high-paced, fantasy-friendly clash where uncontested marks, clearance dominance, and scoreboard pressure will shape the optimal builds.
Here is a closer look at the key players our FootyBets.ai models are locking in:
Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn, MID) The ultimate bull in the engine room. Newcombe appears in 100% of our optimal lineups, and for good reason. We’re banking on a massive night of clearances, crunching tackles, and heavy contested touches to drive his score well past his 92.8 projection.
Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn, RUC) Another unanimous selection. Finding a reliable big man is half the battle in daily fantasy, and Meek’s elite hitout-to-advantage work makes him an essential anchor. Factor in his willingness to lay tackles and hunt the footy around the ground, and he’s a no-brainer.
Cameron Nairn (Hawthorn, FWD) Finding pure forwards who score reliably is always a headache, but Nairn takes the guesswork out. Locked into 10 out of 10 optimal builds, expect him to clunk plenty of marks on the lead and pepper the scoreboard under the roof.
Cam Mackenzie (Hawthorn, MID) Featuring in 90% of our top builds, Mackenzie’s slick ball use and hard running are a perfect match for the Marvel Stadium conditions. He will rack up the uncontested possessions and link-up play all night long.
Position-by-Position Quick Tips
- RUC: Don't overthink it—set and forget with Lloyd Meek. He is the undisputed king of the ruck match-up tonight.
- DEF: Load up on Hawthorn half-backs. Karl Amon will carve it up by foot, while Josh Battle is primed to haunt his old side with a feast of intercept marks. If you need a Saints pivot, Jack Sinclair is always a premium ceiling play.
- MID: Pair Hawthorn's inside dominance with St Kilda’s running power. Mason Wood and Jack Macrae are the best bets in Saints colours to soak up the midfield points.
- FWD: Anchor your forward line with Cameron Nairn, but don't sleep on Blake Hardwick pushing up the ground to grab his share of the Sherrin.
Ready to lock in a winning squad? Check out the exact combinations our AI has cooked up with the Top 10 optimal DraftStars lineups below!